UNICEF says 6 killed in "senseless" attack on charity team

DAKAR, Senegal -- The United Nations children's agency says one of its workers and five other education workers have been killed in an attack in Central African Republic.

UNICEF's West and Central Africa Regional Director Marie-Pierre Poirier says the team was attacked Sunday while traveling near Markounda, a remote northwestern area near the border with Chad.

Poirier said, "We strongly condemn this senseless act against aid workers who were there to improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations." UNICEF said that the victims, who were all Central African nationals, included a UNICEF education consultant, two officials from the Ministry of Education and three members of the national NGO Bangui Sans Frontières, a UNICEF partner, "They were travelling to Markounda where they were to start a training for community teachers," where over 7,000 people have sought refuge. 

The delegation was there to train community teachers for 2,000 children in temporary learning spaces created by UNICEF for the children affected by the conflict.

The increased violence in Central African Republic has put aid workers in danger, CBS News' Pamela Falk reports from the UN, and they find themselves in the crosshairs of armed groups.  

UNICEF says it has no further details.

Militia violence has intensified in the past year in Central African Republic and spread into more regions.

In August, clashes between a militia and a self-defense group killed 30 civilians, including six Red Cross volunteers.