Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Aussie aid worker injured in Oruzgan named

Tarin Kowt Airport
Tarin Kowt Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Australian AusAID adviser injured in an apparent suicide attack in Afghanistan has been named as David Savage, 49, a former Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer and peacekeeper.

In a statement issued by AusAID on Tuesday night, Mr Savage's family said he was working with AusAID in Afghanistan's Oruzgan Province helping local communities to rebuild and take control of their lives.

"The Savage family would like to confirm that it was David Savage, who was injured in the terrible suicide attack in Afghanistan on March 26," the statement said.

"He is currently in a stable condition."

Details of what occurred remain scanty.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said he was involved in work outside the main Australian base at Tarin Kowt when he was injured.

AusAID said he was leaving a community meeting in the Chora Valley, north of Tarin Kowt, when the attack occurred.

He had been accompanied by International Security Assistance Force soldiers, standard procedure for the movement of aid and other officials outside the Tarin Kowt base.

No other Australians were present.

Mr Savage, who reportedly comes from Canberra, was treated in Tarin Kowt and then transferred to the medical facility at Kandahar for more advanced treatment.

It's now believed he's on his way to Germany for further treatment.

"We are working to ensure that he receives the best of medical care and that his family in Australia is supported at this time," Ms Gillard told reporters in Seoul.

Mr Savage's family said David's career as a member of the AFP, a UN peacekeeper and now a member of the Australian Civilian Corps was an indication of his strong commitment to helping people in need.
"That he should be injured while trying to help people is a difficult thing for us to understand. We would like to thank everyone for their well wishes," the family said.

from thewest.com.au
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