Media CenterCatholic Relief Services Mourns the Loss of Two Staff Killed in Ethiopia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Nikki Gamer
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
+1-978-884-0003

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, April 10, 2023 – Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is devastated to report the loss of two staff members in Ethiopia. On Sunday, April 9, Chuol Tongyik, a security manager, and Amare Kindeya, a driver, were shot and killed in a CRS vehicle in the Amhara region as they were returning to Addis Ababa from an assignment. Details of the murder are still unknown.

“The depth of our shock and sorrow is difficult to measure and we are saddened over this senseless violence. CRS is a humanitarian agency dedicated to serving the most vulnerable people in Ethiopia. We express our deepest condolences to Chuol’s and Amare’s families and hope they find strength in this tragic time,” said Zemede Zewdie, CRS country representative in Ethiopia. “CRS reiterates our commitment to continue working in support of the people in Ethiopia.”

Chuol Tongyik, 37, started working for CRS as a security manager in December 2021, and Amare Kindeya, 43, had been a driver for CRS since 2019.

“These colleagues were an integral part of the CRS team and the larger community of humanitarian workers. We honor their sacrifice and deeply mourn their deaths,” Zemede said.

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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