South Sudan’s main armed opposition group allied to former first vice president turned rebel leader, Riek Machar says it has released the 10 aid workers who were abducted near Yei.
The humanitarian workers were held for more than five days, since 25 April.
“The leadership of the SPLM/A IO has released the 10 aid workers detained in Yei and they are now heading to Juba. The aid workers have been handed over to the International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC),” said Paul Lam Gabriel, rebel deputy spokesman told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon.
For its part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) confirmed in a statement that the ten aid workers who were detained while on an assessment mission near Yei have been freed.
The humanitarian staff, all nationals, included one from UNOCHA, two from UNICEF, one from the South Sudanese Development Organization, (SSDO), two from ACROSS, three from Plan International and one from Action Africa Help (AAH).
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Alain Noudehou, confirmed that the workers were returned safely and in good health. He commended the tireless work of those who secured their release, particularly the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to facilitate their return to Juba.
He expressed outrage at what he described as a deteriorating environment for humanitarian work in South Sudan.
Earlier the same week, a humanitarian worker was shot and killed while returning to check on a health clinic that had been looted in Leer County. This most recent death brings to 100 the total number of aid workers killed since the conflict began in December 2013.
“I am deeply concerned by the insecurity faced by aid workers in South Sudan, who are risking their lives to save others,” said Noudehou. I strongly urge the parties to the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and ensure that humanitarians are safe while delivering assistance and services to people in need.”
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the released aid workers were returned to the capital Juba today.
“The ICRC has a long-standing record as a neutral intermediary in these kinds of situations. We are pleased that these ten aid workers will now be able to return to their families,” said François Stamm, the head of delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan.
The ICRC said it provided the transportation of the released aid workers with the consent of all the parties involved and was not involved in any negotiations. None of the aid workers were ICRC staff members.