May 2nd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The International Committee of the Red Cross has said in a press statement exended to the Nyamilepedia on Tuesday that it has facilitated the safe return of 10 aid workers abducted by armed group last week to South Sudan’s capital Juba using an ICRC aircraft from an area the statement said is around the Yei town.
“Ten aid workers taken by an armed group last week were returned to Juba by a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),” the statement said in part.
Francois Stamm, the head of delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan said the international organization has a long-standing records of being a neutral intermediary in situations such as the issue of the 10 kidnaped aid workers.
“The ICRC has a long-standing record as a nuetral intermediary in these kinds of situations. We are pleased that these ten aid workers will now be able to return to their fanilies,” he said.
The statement said the ICRC provided the transportation with the knownledge and consent of all parties involved pointing out that none of the kidnaped aid workers were ICRC staff members.
“The ICRC provided the transportationb of the released aid workers with consent of all the parties involved and was not included in any negotiations. None of the aid workers were ICRC staff members,” it said.
The statement reminded the parties to the South Sudan conflict of the fact that aid workers are not a target to either of them.
“While we are relieved these ten humanitareians have been released, we want to remind all parties to the conflict that aid workers are never a target.” it said adding that the operation of returning the aid workers to Juba was done by the ICRC aircraft from an area near Yei town.
