Q. A Taliban spokesman claimed they killed the Nuristan Eye Camp team because they were “missionaries”, “spying for the Americans” and that they were lost and were “killed as they tried to escape”. What was the team doing in Nuristan?

A. IAM is a Christian organisation, and is registered as such with the Afghan authorities. We have always been open about this with the Afghan government. The Nuristan team were not spreading Christianity, nor were they spies or fugitives. The team was there at the invitation of Nuristani elders. This was one of a series of medical trips to the area over the last decade and a half.
We find it greatly significant that the Taliban shadow government from Nuristan and Badakhshan stood up to defend the reputation of the team, saying "We regret these killings and strongly assert that this is not the work of the Taliban who will never do harm to genuine aid workers". They describe the team as "bona fide aid workers" and expressed their condolences to the families of the team.

Q. Did the Taliban from the area where the Eye Camp team was killed know the team?

A. Tom Little and Dan Terry had many friends across Afghanistan, across the political and ethnic spectrum. A Taliban spokesman thanked Dan Terry by name for his more than 35 years of work in Afghanistan, saying he "had a long history of helping our people".

Q. What have other Afghans said about the Eye Camp team?

A. Many Afghans have stepped forward to defend the reputation of the team. Here are statements from former Presidential candidate Dr Abdullah Abdullah, friends, other Afghan NGOs, and journalists who knew them well.

Q. So who murdered the Eye Camp team and why?

A. We don't know. We are not in a position to investigate this, we are leaving that job to the Afghan authorities.

Q. Surely your expatriate workers must command a high salary working in Afghanistan?

A. No, all our expatriate workers come as volunteers. Some spend their own money to live and work in Afghanistan. Others are supported by local community groups in their own countries who are interested in the development of the Afghan people. Most of the IAM professionals could earn 2-6 times as much if they worked at home or in Afghanistan for an international development agency.

Q. How does IAM relate to the Afghan Government?

A. IAM has worked in Afghanistan for over four decades. As an international NGO and guest in Afghanistan we are not involved in politics. We therefore relate to whichever government is in power. Our focus is on the Afghan people, particularly the poor.

Q. What is the difference between IAM and IOM?

A. IOM is the International Organization for Migration. It is the principal intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration, by providing services and advice to governments and migrants. IAM is the International Assistance Mission, an NGO that only works in Afghanistan.

If you have any further questions please feel free to contact us.