APO
Attack on a World Food Program field mission in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of three people killed today in an attack on a delegation visiting the field in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A number of other passengers traveling with the delegation were injured in the attack.
The three dead were identified as Italian Ambassador to DRC Luca Attanasio, an Italian embassy official and a WFP driver.
The delegation was on its way from Goma to visit a WFP school feeding program in Rutshuru when the incident occurred.
WFP will work with national authorities to determine the details of the attack, which occurred on a road that had previously been permitted to travel without a security escort.
WFP is in close contact with the Italian authorities through its offices at its headquarters in Rome and the DRC.