GENEVA, Switzerland, April 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The five members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) team abducted on 8 February 2014 in northern Mali have been released today. Two of them have minor injuries but their condition is not life-threatening and they will all soon be reunited with their families.
The ICRC staff members, all Malian, were freed by chance during a military operation conducted by French forces in the north of the country.
“We are relieved that everything turned out well for our staff,” said Christoph Luedi, head of the ICRC delegation in Mali. “For the families, who were notified straight away, it is the end of an ordeal. We would like to thank the local people, community and religious leaders and all those who helped us through this difficult period, as well as our staff members’ families for their patience and courage.”
“We hope that this happy ending for our staff means that the ICRC’s activities to help people affected by the conflict in Mali can continue nationwide. Once again, we call for respect for the strictly humanitarian work of the ICRC and the Mali Red Cross,” said Mr Luedi.
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