Red Cross picks up freed Darfur aid workers
October 18, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The International Red Cross picked up the two female aid workers after their release today by the kidnappers and transported them to the capital of North Darfur.
After more than three months of negotiations with the abductors the kidnappers contacted the Red Cross asking it to transport the two workers to Al-Fasher. The international organization said it did not take part in negotiations over their release.
“On 17 October, the ICRC was informed by the kidnappers that the two hostages were to be released at a location near Kutum and was requested to pick up the two GOAL staff members there.”
“An ICRC plane then flew both released hostages from Kutum to Al Fasher, where they arrived at 10.30am today.”
Following their arrival to Kutum the two women were debriefed by the Sudanese intelligence officials.
The ICRC is mandated to act as a neutral intermediary in conflict situations and may be requested to intervene in situations of kidnapping. In such cases, the organization intervenes at the request of a party and always with the explicit consent of the other.
The top United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan Ameerah Haq has welcomed the release of the two aid workers saying their kidnapping is “a reminder of the dangers faced by humanitarians working to help the people of Sudan, often in circumstances of considerable personal risk.”
Sudanese state minister for humanitarian affairs Abdel-Baqi al-Jailani welcomed the release saying they didn’t pay a ransom. Last month he had pledged to forgive the kidnapper who have done a crime and discuss the possibility of legal immunity for the kidnappers.
Also Darfur main rebel groups said they are pleased by the release of the two aid workers.
Ahmed Hussein Adam the spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement regretted however that the abduction of aid workers occur in areas controlled by the government, accusing Khartoum of disseminating terror in the region particularly in the zones controlled by army or militias.
Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement said the government encourages such criminal acts even tacitly against the international NGOs to force their departure from the region or to frighten them at least saying the government aims to get rid from the IDPs camps.
Speaking after their release the Irish aid worker said the kidnappers were motivated by money. “It was purely about money, that’s all they wanted, and that’s all they cared about. They would talk about nothing but money. They were extremely poor people trying to make a quick buck.”
(ST)