Red Cross compound plundered; six kidnapped workers released in Darfur

Masked gunmen reportedly raided the compound of the Red Cross near to the airport of Nyala, Capital of South Darfur on Monday morning. Separately, the organisation has confirmed that six of the eight members of staff abducted near Nertiti, also on Monday morning, have been released. A witness told Radio Dabanga that nine masked gunmen scaled the fence into the Red Cross compound in Nyala’s airport zone at about 1am. They allegedly beat two guards before removing mobile phones, computers, foreign currency and other property of the organisation’s workers before fleeing to an unknown destination. The source said that several international staff members were present in the compound at the time of the attack, including Swiss, Canadian, and Serb nationals. The Red Cross has apparently reported the incident to the North Nyala police. Abductees released On Tuesday, it was announced that six of the eight Red Cross staff abducted on the road from Nertiti in Central Darfur to state capital Zalingei on Monday morning, have been released. The two vehicles they were travelling in, as well as the drivers, are still in the hands of the captors. ICRC spokesman Rafiullah, told AFP that the staff members were returning from a training course in first aid, as well as maintaining water pumps when they were abducted. He said the release of the six was secured via “contacts at various political, military and intelligence levels and with officials with tribal influence in the region”.Relatives of a released victim, told Radio Dabanga that they had been tortured while in captivity and that the police was cross-checking the information. These reports, however, could not be independently verified. Sources also said that drivers Habib Hamsa and Hamas Al Salah have not been released and neither have the two Red Cross vehicles. File photo: UN Photo/Fred Noy Related: ‘Red Cross workers abducted in Central Darfur’: witness (29 August 2013)