Anny Osabutey, The Christian Journal
UN, New York – A small section of humanitarian workers on Friday morning drew attention to the dangers associated with their work, when they lined up at the United Nations headquarters in New York, calling for an to attacks on them.
Numbering a little over twenty, the workers, holding banners and pieces of papers with writings such as “ Aid Workers Not A Target,” sent a clear message to perpetrators of crimes they are in to help, and should not be treated as mercenaries. They stood there silently, smiling to the cameras. In a non-verbal communication, they sent their message to those behind hundreds of atrocities against them to stop.
They remain targets of gunfire from warlords, rebels and government soldiers. Especially in Syria where the war continues to rage, aid workers have been kidnapped, tortured and killed by extremists groups. Suspected agents of violent terror group, Isis, have consistently targeted aid workers, kidnapping and violently chopping off their heads. Others have been bombed by government and coalition efforts.
British aid worker David Haines was executed by ISIS, and a video of the execution published on websites n websites. The ISIS video post showing Haines’ beheading called his execution “a message to the allies of America.”
It is produced very similarly to the videos that showed the executions of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, too.