PAKISTAN: ABDUCTED UN STAFFER’S HEALTH REPORTEDLY WORSENING

PAKISTAN: ABDUCTED UN STAFFER'S HEALTH REPORTEDLY WORSENING
New York, Mar 18 2009 1:00PM

The United Nations said today it is very concerned about the condition of staff member John Solecki, who was abducted in Pakistan more than six weeks ago, after the group which claims to be holding him reported that his health was deteriorating.

"The United Nations is keen for John to receive immediate professional medical care in a clinic or hospital where the necessary medical tests can be carried out," according to a news release issued in Islamabad.

"The swift delivery of medical help is important. John's well-being is the responsibility of the group who is holding him and we hope they are taking steps to make sure John remains well and is not suffering," it added.

Mr. Solecki, the Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Quetta, was kidnapped on 2 February during an attack in which his driver, Syed Hashim, who had been with the agency for 18 years, was killed.

A group known as the Balochistan Liberation United Front claims to be holding Mr. Solecki and has demanded the release the people it says are in Pakistani custody. Since 2004, rebels in the province have called for political autonomy and a larger share of natural resource profits.

The UN said it appreciates all efforts on behalf of the Baloch tribal leaders to ensure Mr. Solecki's safe release and remains in active communication and contact with them to support this goal.

"The UN is still willing to speak directly to those who have John, in the spirit of being ready to listen and to find a safe way to secure his release."
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ICRC and Philippine Red Cross appeal to abductors' sense of humanity

Manila / Geneva (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has taken note of direct threats made by those responsible for the abduction of ICRC staff members Mary Jean Lacaba, Eugenio Vagni and Andreas Notter on 15 January 2009 and are extremely worried about the three persons' safety.

The ICRC and the Philippine National Red Cross remain in constant contact with the authorities concerned to discuss urgent measures necessary to resolve this crisis.

The ICRC and the Philippine National Red Cross are also appealing to the abductors' sense of humanity and asking them to avoid taking any action that could endanger the lives of Mary Jean, Eugenio and Andreas. They are renewing their call for the immediate and unconditional release of the three ICRC staff members.

UN WORKERS IN SOMALIA RELEASED JUST HOURS AFTER ABDUCTION

UN WORKERS IN SOMALIA RELEASED JUST HOURS AFTER ABDUCTION
New York, Mar 16 2009 5:00PM

The four United Nations staff members who were abducted earlier today by unknown armed men in south central Somalia have now been released, the world body has confirmed.

They were all released safely to UN security today at 22:10, local time, a UN spokesperson said.

After they were released, the UN confirmed that the staff members are Ali Dekow of Somalia and Marc Andre Post of France, both of whom work for the World Food Programme (WFP), as well as UN Volunteer Paul Bampo of Ghana and Miragha Babayev of Azerbaijan, who both work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

"The United Nations is very grateful for the efforts and intervention of the local authorities who used their influence and reach to ensure our dedicated staff was cared for and ultimately released safely and quickly," stated UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Bowden.

"This is an important affirmation that the UN presence and its activities in the surrounding areas is accepted and protected by the local communities and leaders," he added.

The staff members were on their way to the airport when their convoy was stopped by gunmen, according to a statement issued by the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

No violence or shooting was reported to have occurred during the abduction, which took place in Waajid in south central Somalia.

"The quick and positive resolution of this incident will ensure the aid operation can go on unhindered," stated Mr. Bowden. "Waajid has been a longstanding and important aid hub serving relief activities in Somalia."

Somalia, which has not had a functioning national government since 1991, has been plagued by fighting and humanitarian suffering for decades. Continuing instability, coupled with drought, high food prices and the collapse of the local currency have only worsened the dire humanitarian situation in recent months.

The UN estimates that some 3.2 million people, or 40 per cent of the population, are in need of assistance.

At the same time, there have been several encouraging developments in recent weeks for the country, including the election of a new President and the creation of an enlarged Parliament.
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SUDAN: UN WELCOMES RELEASE OF ABDUCTED RELIEF WORKERS IN DARFUR

SUDAN: UN WELCOMES RELEASE OF ABDUCTED RELIEF WORKERS IN DARFUR
New York, Mar 15 2009 1:00PM

The joint United Nations-African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission to Darfur (UNAMID) has welcomed the safe release of four aid workers who had been abducted at gunpoint three days ago.

The staff members -- three international and one Sudanese national -- of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Médecins Sans Frontières-Belgium arrived last night by Government helicopter at El Fasher Aiport. They appeared to be in good condition and the three international aid workers have since departed for the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

They had been taken at gunpoint from their office in the town of Saraf Omra on 11 March. One other Sudanese staff member abducted at the same time had been freed earlier.

One of those released yesterday, Mauro d'Ascanio, an Italian doctor, said he was fine and that he looks forward to speaking with his family.

The other staff have been identified as Laura Archer, a
Canadian nurse Raphaël Meunier, a French coordinator and Sharif Mohamadin, a Sudanese watchman.

"We are very happy. This is a very good thing -- we were really concerned about this," said AU-UN Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada.

Mohammed Osman Kibir, the Wali, or governor, of North Darfur state, said he personally intervened by negotiating with the abductors over the telephone four times. He flew with a Government team to pick up the four aid workers.

While the identities of the abductors have not been made clear, they did inform the Wali that their actions were in response to the decision earlier this month by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir last week for alleged crimes committed in the region.

Mr. Kibir said he was able to convince the gunmen that the abduction of the relief workers reflected badly on their country and that it was in Sudan's best interest to release them, with no ransom being paid either by the Government or by the NGO.

He added that authorities would be boosting security measures to ensure the safety of aid workers and other international staff operating in the war-torn Darfur region.

Immediately after the ICC announced the indictment of Mr. Al-Bashir, the Government ordered the expulsion of 13 aid groups which assist nearly 5 million people in Darfur, and the UN has continued to press authorities to reverse the expulsions.

An estimated 300,000 people have died, either through direct combat or because of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, over the past five years in the region, where rebels have been fighting Government forces and allied Arab militiamen, known as the Janjaweed, since 2003.

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BAN VOICES CONCERN AFTER AID WORKERS ABDUCTED IN DARFUR

BAN VOICES CONCERN AFTER AID WORKERS ABDUCTED IN DARFUR
New York, Mar 12 2009 12:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he is deeply concerned at the kidnapping of three humanitarian workers in Darfur, and once again called on the Sudanese Government to reverse its decision last week to expel 13 major aid groups.

The three aid workers abducted yesterday are staff members of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Medecins sans Frontieres' Belgian branch.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters today, Mr. Ban stressed that these NGOs play a vital role in assisting some 4.7 million people in the strife-torn region.

"The concern of the United Nations in Sudan has always been, and will remain, peace and the well-being of the country's people," Mr. Ban stated. "For millions of Sudanese, these NGOs are a lifeline. They must be allowed to do their work."

The expulsions started immediately after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

As of 10 March, 183 international staff of the affected NGOs had already left the country, with others are awaiting exit visas to depart, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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