World Vision is today mourning the brutal and senseless deaths of six members our staff in the Mansehra District of Pakistan after an unprovoked attack by gunmen.

World Vision's compound is located 65 kilometers north of Mansehra town. We can confirm reports that gunmen entered the compound, threw grenades, and opened fire on staff inside the office. They left the compound after exploding a self-made bomb.

In addition to those killed, 8 employees were hospitalized with injuries. Four of them were released from the hospital, while the other 4 remain in a critical but stable condition.

No threatening letters were received prior to the attack. World Vision’s relief and development work in Pakistan is conducted by local citizens. Local leaders have strongly condemned the attack. World Vision sees the attack not only as an attack on its own local staff, but also on the Pakistani people themselves.

All of World Vision’s operations in Pakistan have been suspended for the time being.

World Vision remembers those staff who have died as dedicated people seeking to improve the lives of people affected by poverty and disasters.

Since 1992, World Vision has primarily focused on relief interventions in Pakistan. The work expanded in 2001, when the agency began collaborating with other aid groups in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab Province with emergency relief assistance and community development initiatives.

After the devastating October 2005 earthquake, World Vision expanded its operations in Pakistan.