The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday condemned the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, which took the lives of five United Nations (UN) personnel, including Filipina Jossie Esto.

“The Philippine Government condemns the terrorist attack perpetuated against United Nations personnel in Kabul [last Wednesday, October 28] that claimed the life of Jossie Esto, 40, a Filipina Electoral

Outreach and Training Coordinator under the United Nations Volunteers Program, and those of four of her UN colleagues,” the DFA said in a statement.

Reports circulated that a Filipina was among those killed in the latest terrorist attack Wednesday when gunmen stormed the Bekhtar Guest House in Kabul’s Shar-e-Now District being used by UN and other international workers. The terrorist attack was claimed by the Taliban.

“The Filipino nation joins her bereaved family and friends in mourning the loss of Ms. Esto,” the DFA said, adding that Esto is the fourth Filipino national to have been killed in terrorist attacks against the United Nations (UN) in recent years.

The DFA also called on the international community to condemn the latest terrorist attack, calling on unity to “improve the protection of civilians, particularly UN personnel and aid workers who are vulnerable to danger in the course of their duties.”

“The Philippines remains a stalwart supporter of the United Nations as it strives to build peace, promote development and provide emergency and humanitarian assistance around the world. The country takes deep pride in all Filipinos serving in the United Nations as officials, peacekeepers, specialists, staff members and volunteers wherever they may be,” the DFA said.

Prior to her assignment in Kabul, Esto was a UN volunteer in Liberia, Timor Leste and Nepal. She was a school teacher who also served as an electoral and civic education officer in the Philippines prior to her volunteer work in the UN.

Aside from Esto, it will be recalled that United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) personnel Perseveranda So had been among the fatalities of a suicide bombing at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan in June this year. So was UNICEF’s chief of education in Pakistan.

In 2003, Filipino Ranillo Buenaventura, a staff member of the UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, was killed in the suicide car bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.

Last year, Gene Luna, a staff member of the World Food Program (WFP), was among the fatalities in the terrorist bombing of UN offices in Algiers, Algeria,

One of the most fatal terrorist attacks was in August 2003 when the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq was bombed, claiming the lives of 22 UN staff members, including the world body's top envoy in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. The said attack also wounded more than 150 people.