Dr. Jacqueline Kirk killed in Afghanistan

Dr. Jacqueline Kirk, recently appointed Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Education at McGill University, was killed together with three other colleagues in southern Afghanistan on 13 August 2008 while working for the New York-based International Rescue Committee. Her article “Menstruation is on her mind: Girl-centred, holistic thinking for school sanitation” which she co-authored with Marni Sommer, appeared in April 2008 issue of Notes and News published by the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre.

Jackie Kirk was returning to Kabul with Shirley Case, Nicole Dial and drivers Mohammad Aimal and Zabiullah. They had spent the past two days meeting with the local community about an International Rescue Committee project that aids children with disabilities. The three women and driver Mohammad Aimal were killed. Zabiullah was severely wounded. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jackie Kirk obtained her PhD at McGill in 2002 and had worked with the International Rescue Committee since 2004 in helping to support its education programmes worldwide.

Sources: International Rescue Committee, 14 Aug 2008 ; McGill University, 13 Aug 2008

Keywords

• South Asia
• Gender
• Sanitation - Hygiene promotion