The dead are believed to be six Americans, one Briton and a German who worked for a charity providing eye care and medical help. They were part of the IAM, International Assistance Mission.
This is what they said they were doing in Afghanistan:
The IAM is an international charitable, non-profit, Christian organization, serving the people of Afghanistan, through capacity building in the sectors of Health and Economic Development.
IAM’s core values are:
- Dependency on God
- Love for All
- Teamwork
- Accountability
- Learning
- Quality Work
This is what they were doing in Afghanistan:
Over the decades since 1966, Afghanistan and its people have seen a lot of war and other trouble. As an NGO committed to the Afghan people, IAM has always sought to have a good working relationship with the government. IAM's work has been appreciated by the people and the authorities to the extent that it was able to continue its work for all but a few months when it was forced to suspend its programmes.
Over the years the involvement of IAM work in Afghanistan has expanded and now includes such areas as renewable energy, primary mental health care, physiotherapy, teaching English and community development. IAM is focused on working in areas that are the most needy and underserved. IAM now has projects in some of the most remote parts of the country.
This is their reward:
___________________
Eight doctors killed in Afghanistan
Eight German and American doctors have been found shot dead alongside three bullet-riddled cars in a remote northern province of Afghanistan.
By Ben Farmer
Published: 7:58AM BST 07 Aug 2010
Telegraph
Two Afghans were also found dead with the three women and five men the local police chief said.
Gen Agha Noor Kemtuz, provincial police chief, said it was unclear what the group had been doing in Kuran Wa Munjan district of Badakhshan, but speculated robbery had been a motive for the attack.
He said villagers had reported finding the abandoned vehicles in Afghanistan several days ago and an investigation team was sent to the densely-forested scene on the border with Nuristan province, one day's drive from the provincial capital Faizabad.
He said: "We couldn't find any passports or anything," he said.
"Nothing was left behind."
German and American diplomats confirmed they were urgently investigating the reports, but said the remote location was hampering investigations.
A United States embassy spokeswoman said: “We have reason to believe that several American citizens are among the deceased.
“We cannot confirm any details at this point, but are actively working with local authorities and others to learn more about the identities and nationalities of these individuals.”
Badakhshan is considered one of the safer, though most remote provinces in Afghanistan. The poverty stricken region attracts a small number of hikers and adventure tourists.
