WFP: Three Somali aid workers shot dead

Three Somali aid workers were shot and killed in an attack near the Ethiopian border by a resident of a refugee camp, the Associated Press reported.

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The attack is understood to have taken place on Friday morning in the central town of Mataban, which Reuters said was in a region under the control of the Ahlu Sunna militia group – a supporter of the Somali government.

Two of the victims worked for the UN World Food Program (WFP), while the third worked for a partner organization, Doyale.

An aid worker in Mataban, Abdi Ali Moalim, told Reuters:

"It was a shocking attack. A gunman opened fire and killed (the victims) during distribution day."

The WFP, which has suspended operations in the area, identified the victims as its employees Muhyedin Yarrow, 54, and Mohamed Salad, 28, and Doyale employee Abdulahi Ali.

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A town elder said the attack appeared to be over a personal matter, the AP reported.

The gunman reportedly gave himself up following the shooting, and is being held in police custody.

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