Geneva (ICRC) – Two ICRC staff members who were abducted in February this year in Jawzjan province have been released.
"We are relieved and grateful that our colleagues are now back with us unharmed," said the ICRC head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. "Their abduction and the killings of our six colleagues were emotional agony for all of us, especially for their families and friends."
The two staff members were abducted by an armed group on 8 February 2017 while on their way to deliver assistance in Jawzan province with six other colleagues who were shot and killed in the same attack.
"It has taken a lot of effort, and we are thankful to the communities and the authorities who have mobilized and played a role in facilitating our colleagues' release," said Ms. Zanarelli. "Our priority now is their well-being and being reunited with their families. We ask everyone to respect their and their families' privacy at this time."
The ICRC will not comment on the identity of the abductors, their motives or the details of the release.
For further information please contact:
Thomas Glass, ICRC Kabul (English), tel: +93 (0) 729 140 510
Ahmad Ramin Ayaz, ICRC Kabul (Dari and Pashto), tel: +93 (0) 794 618 908
Sanela Bajrambasic, ICRC Geneva (English), tel: +41 79 217 32 17
