The three humanitarian workers are guided by a UNAMID security officer upon their arrival at El Fasher airport, North Darfur. Photo by Albert González Farran

El Fasher, 19 July 2014 – Three Sudanese humanitarian workers abducted in Kutum, North Darfur, on 18 June, were freed today in the same locality after 32 days in captivity.

Mustafa Abdalla Adarge, working with UNICEF, and Mohamed Abu Elgassem and Ahmed Elsayed, working with the international NGO Goal, were immediately taken to the Mission’s hospital in Kutum, for medical checks. They appear to be unharmed and in good condition.

The African Union – United Nations Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, expressed the Mission’s gratitude to the Government of Sudan, Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services and the Wali (Governor) of North Darfur for their valuable assistance in the safe release of the humanitarian workers. “The role of the humanitarian actors in Darfur is crucial to ensure that those in need received essential aid; it’s in everyone’s interest to guarantee that they can continue to carry out their duties safely,” the JSR said.

These three were among the 25 humanitarian workers who were taken by armed men in three separate incidents in Kutum locality on 18 June 2014. A total of 20 of them were released the same day, while two staff members of the national NGO Sustainable Action Group (SAG) were held in captivity for 14 days and released on 2 July 2014.