UN Staff Dies of Injuries From UN Abuja Building Suicide Attack
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 14:30 — newsadmin
UN Staff Dies of Injuries From UN Abuja Building Suicide Attack
-Masterweb Reports
Fred Simiyu Willis, a United Nations (UN) staff member injured in the Boko Haram suicide bombing of UN building in Abuja on August 26, died December 23, of his injuries in a South African hospital. Willis, a Kenyan national was an employee of UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and one of those seriously wounded from the UN building attack. His injuries were so serious he had to be flown to South Africa for proper medical attention along with others also fatally wounded in the attack. Willis served at UNICEF as a health specialist in the area of vaccine security, supply and logistics. He assumed duties in Abuja in September 2004, approximately seven years before the suicide attack.
UN Development Program (UNDP) staff member Sunday Nwachukwu from Nigeria, died early October in a South African hospital, also from injuries sustained from the UN building blast. Boko Haram, an Islamic sect which aims to impose Islamic sharia law across Nigeria, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group also claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day bombings of Churches this year in five northern cities that killed over 40 people.
Commenting on Willis' transition, Kate Donovan, a spokeswoman for UNICEF said: "It's a loss for the children of Nigeria and for all of us. He was a very dedicated employee who helped ensure immunization campaigns across Nigeria. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and to his colleagues. He was a very highly valued member of the staff." Willis' death takes the death toll in the August attack to 25; this includes 13 UN staff members.
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