Red Cross says has contact with abductors of French worker

October 24, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Red Cross said on Saturday it succeeded to establish contact with the kidnappers of a French staffer in the restive region of Darfur.

Gauthier Lefevre, 35, was abducted on Thursday as he was returning with other ICRC staff to El-Geneina after completing a field trip north of the capital of West Darfur to help local communities upgrade their water supply systems.

“The first contact was made yesterday (Friday)” said Tamara Al-Rifai the spokesperson of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Khartoum. She further said the abductors had not made any “specific demands” and that “for the moment, we do not know anything about their motives.”

Sudanese government officials condemned the abduction and described the kidnappers as bandits.

Last week, kidnappers released two staffers of the Irish GOAL after spending three months in captivity. Also two civilian from the hybrid peace keeping mission are still in detention since their kidnapping last August

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan condemned today the abduction saying it “serves nothing but to undermine humanitarian work in the region, at the sole expense of those who benefit from such endeavour.”

“It harms the chances of creating a safe and secure environment for delivering humanitarian relief and impacts negatively on our ability to deliver food and basic health and welfare services in areas where they are most needed,” added Ms. Haq.

(ST)