Madam, - Monday afternoon's tragic events, in which the Plan International office in Mansehra, Pakistan was attacked by gunmen, who killed four aid workers and critically injured another, underlines once again the hazards that are too frequently encountered in in a world where there are far too many guns. Aid work, by its very nature, often takes place in inhospitable regions but it is a sad fact that in recent years intentional violence has accounted for far more worker deaths than accidents or illness. Local aid workers are more likely to be targeted than their expatriate colleagues.
I would like to publicly express my profound sorrow and regret at such a senseless loss of life. I would also like to assure the people who sponsor children in Mansehra that all of them are safe and sound. - Yours, etc,
DAVID DALTON, CEO, Plan Ireland, Baggot Street, Dublin 2 .