World Concern Africa on High Alert after Osama Bin Laden Killing

From World Concern, CRISTA Ministries

The death of Osama Bin Laden has prompted World Concern’s security director to elevate security awareness across Eastern Africa.

“The potential for some sort of retaliatory move by militant sympathizers is high,” said Nick Archer, World Concern director of security and disaster response.

Archer recommends staff from the Shoreline-based humanitarian organization stay away from public gatherings and transportation hubs.

In the past, Al Quaeda militants have attacked targets in Eastern Africa with ties to America. The most notable attacks include the 1998 bombing of US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“The news from Pakistan does have an impact on our operations,” said David Eller, World Concern president. “We will continue to work with the communities we’ve been called to serve, but with a heightened awareness of these tensions.”

About 95% of World Concern staff is comprised of people from the countries where we serve. Whenever possible, we work to equip national staff to become leaders and humanitarians in their own country or region.

World Concern offers opportunities for people living in extreme poverty and oppression, without regard to race, religion or gender. One of our primary goals is to foster peace and reconciliation. Whenever possible, we seek avenues for groups in conflict to work together in mutually beneficial ways.

World Concern, part of CRISTA Ministries, is a Christian humanitarian organization that helps lift people out of poverty through activities including microfinance, agriculture, disaster response and small business development. World Concern works with the poor in 22 countries, with the goal of transforming the lives of those we touch, leading them on a path to self-sustainability. Worldwide, World Concern offers life, opportunity and hope to nearly six million people.