DND condemns beheading of British aid worker whose group helped 'Yolanda' victims

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday condemned the beheading of a British aid worker whose group provided help to communities affected by typhoon “Yolanda.”

“The DND expresses in the strongest terms its condemnation of the murder of Mr. David Haines of ACTED at the hands of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria),” DND spokesman Peter Galvez said in a statement. 

“The Department, its officials and staff, condole with Mr. Haines' family and loved ones, as well as ACTED,” he added.

Galvez said ACTED “rapidly came to the aid” of the people of Central Visayas in the aftermath of “Yolanda.”

Haines was not present when ACTED provided relief to typhoon survivors last November because he was kidnapped in Syria in March 2013.

He was abducted in Atmeh village in northern Syria while arranging the distribution of relief to people staying in a refugee camp.

A video showing his execution was reportedly posted last Saturday on a website associated with ISIS terrorists.

Haines is the third Western captive to be murdered by the Islamic extremist group after journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has described the execution of Haines as an "act of pure evil."

In its website, ACTED said it has sent a team in Tacloban to assess the needs of affected communities and to ensure their access to water, food and shelter. The group has also distributed shelter materials and essential non-food items such as blankets.

ACTED also distributed emergency rice rations to 279,000 people each month in December 2013 and January 2014 and supported the safe collection of infectious waste and debris from 11 hospitals that serve Leyte communities.

It also partnered with another aid group to implement an emergency water, sanitation and hygiene project and worked with local communities on income generation projects.