It all happened so fast, as fast as a storm with such a devastating impact and penetrating sadness; it shall remain an incomprehensible act of brutality. It is a brutal attack on UN staff Guest House in Kabul Afghanistan which left 5 colleagues dead and many traumatized. Busy days for election staff (both UNDP/ELECT and IEC) 9 days to Presidential Run-off election for Afghanistan. Hell broke loose through SMS alert sent by UN Security thus;
‘Intervention in Progress at UN GH for armed attack,
building on fire, at least one gunman in building’
I say to myself; armed attack on UN Guest house! At this point it became clear to me that there was a problem, although the details at this time were still scanty and begging to trickle in from friends as we updated each other on whatever details each one managed to get from anywhere each of us could ask for information. As details continued to emerge it is later confirmed that some colleagues are dead and others are injured. What a shock! Moreover when these are people with whom we have worked together in different places, with whom we call each other by name, exchange emails both official and private and now there comes information of them being no more. Such sad news on a Wednesday morning, which turned into the darkest of days I have worked in Afghanistan and all others places before, the day when the BIG COWARDS (terrorist) choose to take the lives of good willed, innocent, selfless, and hardworking folks whom this ‘crazy world’ still needed most.
A tribute to Jossie Esto, Yah- Lydia Wonyene, Lawrence Mefful and other colleagues who lost their lives too soon.
All we remember of you is friendship, kindness, selflessness and that you died too soon. Response from friends from all over who heard about the sad news of your death were shocked and terrified, their email replies tell the story of how deep you had touched their lives, thus;
‘’they were 2 very good persons, too kind, too good hearted, too young, too good to die in such a horrible way’’. (From a friend in Portugal about Lydia and Jossie)
‘’ I didn't realize Lawrence was working in Afghanistan - I remember he was always such a bright spot in my day whenever I talked to him when I was in Pokhara-Nepal’’. (From a friend in Sweden about Lawrence)
‘Intervention in Progress at UN GH for armed attack,
building on fire, at least one gunman in building’
I say to myself; armed attack on UN Guest house! At this point it became clear to me that there was a problem, although the details at this time were still scanty and begging to trickle in from friends as we updated each other on whatever details each one managed to get from anywhere each of us could ask for information. As details continued to emerge it is later confirmed that some colleagues are dead and others are injured. What a shock! Moreover when these are people with whom we have worked together in different places, with whom we call each other by name, exchange emails both official and private and now there comes information of them being no more. Such sad news on a Wednesday morning, which turned into the darkest of days I have worked in Afghanistan and all others places before, the day when the BIG COWARDS (terrorist) choose to take the lives of good willed, innocent, selfless, and hardworking folks whom this ‘crazy world’ still needed most.
A tribute to Jossie Esto, Yah- Lydia Wonyene, Lawrence Mefful and other colleagues who lost their lives too soon.
All we remember of you is friendship, kindness, selflessness and that you died too soon. Response from friends from all over who heard about the sad news of your death were shocked and terrified, their email replies tell the story of how deep you had touched their lives, thus;
‘’they were 2 very good persons, too kind, too good hearted, too young, too good to die in such a horrible way’’. (From a friend in Portugal about Lydia and Jossie)
‘’ I didn't realize Lawrence was working in Afghanistan - I remember he was always such a bright spot in my day whenever I talked to him when I was in Pokhara-Nepal’’. (From a friend in Sweden about Lawrence)
May the torch of service for humanity and global solidarity which you carried while doing your work continue to illuminate the lives of millions of people for so many years, decades and generations ahead. Am sure your generous effort and commitment to serve humanity is not in vain.
May your souls rest in eternal peace and may your example for selfless service provide inspiration to all those who desire to serve humanity. The service for which you dedicated your life and were willing to lend reasonable risk is the service that has ultimately claimed your good lives.
I hope this provides the solace which your beloved family and friends need in these difficult moments and know that you have taken with you the satisfaction that you played your part. This was a high price by any human standards; it is only the Omnipotent, Almighty God who understands this well than any of us why it happened the way it did. Spiritual wisdom has it that; ‘’from the almighty we came and to him we shall surely return’’.
What we understand for sure is, that the BIG COWARDS who took your dear lives too soon are sure loosers for their brutality is nothing but wickedness.
The email communications between us (below) keeps you alive in my mind. Thank you for your friendship and kindness.
From: Jossie Esto Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:51 AM
To: Rajesh Budhiraja; Musa NuwagabaCc: Stuart Moran; Ahsan UlfatSubject: RE: R&R
Dear Rajesh and Musa,
I am on a holiday! Your………..was already processed. I checked the system and it was deposited in your account 12 September 2009. Please kindly check today………
Kind regards,
Jossie Garbo Esto
Finance Officer
Field Operations Focal point
UNDP-Elect Project Afghanistan
Mobile: +93 (0) 78-844-7594
Mobile: +93 (0) 795-053-085
Email: jossie.g.esto@undp.org/
http://www.undp.org.af/
From: Lawrence Mefful [mefful@un.org]Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 4:02 PM
May your souls rest in eternal peace and may your example for selfless service provide inspiration to all those who desire to serve humanity. The service for which you dedicated your life and were willing to lend reasonable risk is the service that has ultimately claimed your good lives.
I hope this provides the solace which your beloved family and friends need in these difficult moments and know that you have taken with you the satisfaction that you played your part. This was a high price by any human standards; it is only the Omnipotent, Almighty God who understands this well than any of us why it happened the way it did. Spiritual wisdom has it that; ‘’from the almighty we came and to him we shall surely return’’.
What we understand for sure is, that the BIG COWARDS who took your dear lives too soon are sure loosers for their brutality is nothing but wickedness.
The email communications between us (below) keeps you alive in my mind. Thank you for your friendship and kindness.
From: Jossie Esto Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 12:51 AM
To: Rajesh Budhiraja; Musa NuwagabaCc: Stuart Moran; Ahsan UlfatSubject: RE: R&R
Dear Rajesh and Musa,
I am on a holiday! Your………..was already processed. I checked the system and it was deposited in your account 12 September 2009. Please kindly check today………
Kind regards,
Jossie Garbo Esto
Finance Officer
Field Operations Focal point
UNDP-Elect Project Afghanistan
Mobile: +93 (0) 78-844-7594
Mobile: +93 (0) 795-053-085
Email: jossie.g.esto@undp.org/
http://www.undp.org.af/
From: Lawrence Mefful [mefful@un.org]Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2008 4:02 PM
To: Musa NuwagabaSubject: Re: Hi
Hi Musa, Long time. I went home and returned yesterday, so I am trying to deal with the overload of mail in my box. So where are you hiding? ****************************
Hi Musa, Long time. I went home and returned yesterday, so I am trying to deal with the overload of mail in my box. So where are you hiding? ****************************
Lawrence Mefful DFSCO - CR Kabul,
AfghanistanUnited Nations Department of Safety and Security
Mobile: + 93 (0) 700182735Office : +1 212 963 2668
Ext 6375Intermission: 177 - 6375
Email : mefful@un.org
2 comments:
Dear Musa, Thanks for rekindling the memories of these dear ones who died in the course of serving humanity.Lydia served in Sierra Leone with me and was a great friend. Josie was a wonderful person and I feel so bad for my Dear friend and brother Arlyn Recla of Badghis.Josie always called him 'kuya' something in filipino language that meant 'big brother'.My heart goes to the bereaved families. I 'll keep praying for my ELECT team out there and all the good minded folks putting their precious lives at risk in serving humanity. My heart goes as well to Stuart Moran and his great commitment to the entire UNV family. Ernest Ndam Nwachan Esq
Musa,
when did you post this?I hadnt seen it.
Is a nice piece of work.
Post a Comment