Sad News

The Foreign Service family lost a member yesterday.

USAID Foreign Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah, as well as three ISAF soldiers, were killed Thursday at the hands of a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Another State Department employee was injured.

Secretary Clinton said "Ragaei's work over the last year was critical to our efforts to support Afghanistan's political, economic, and security transitions and was an example of the highest standards of service. Over the last 15 months -- partnering with local officials -- he worked in eastern Afghanistan to help establish new schools and health clinics, and deliver electricity to the citizens of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. Ragaei was so committed to our mission and to the people of Afghanistan that he volunteered to serve a second year."

The work we do is sometimes dangerous but vital none the less. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

You can read more about Abdelfattah here.