GARISSA, Kenya, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was injured while three others escaped unhurt on Saturday after unknown gunmen opened fire on a Kenya Red Cross vehicle in Garissa county, northeast Kenya, the charity said.
According to the charity, the four were traveling from Masalani to Ijara to conduct assessments for one of the four projects they are implementing, when the attackers emerged from a nearby bush and shot at the car.
"The injured volunteer was evacuated to Masalani Sub-County hospital for stabilization and has already been evacuated to Malindi by one of our ambulances for further treatment," Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Abbas Gullet said in a statement.
Ruqa and Ijara areas are near the vast Boni forest in which al-Shabab terrorists have been using as their hideout as they launch attacks against Kenyans.
The volunteer who was injured was among other Kenya Red Cross officials who were on board when they were attacked.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected al-Shabab attack but residents said the vehicle was ferrying staff and volunteers when it was ambushed by the unknown assailants.
They said the assailants who emerged from nearby bushes shot arbitrarily at the vehicle from the front and sides. The injured female volunteer had three bullets lodged in her body.
Gullet termed the attack as unfortunate, saying it was targeting people who selflessly serve the respective communities in the area which is close to the Somali border.
"The rest of the team were not injured and are currently undergoing counseling and psychological support due to the traumatic incident," he said.
The charity said police are investigating the incident, adding a meeting has been scheduled with the area leadership and community leaders to address the security challenges.
The latest incident came barely a week after three people, including two children, were killed in a retaliatory attack between two communities at Maraha area in the Isiolo-Garissa counties.
