07 February 2010 - UNAMID welcomes the safe release of Mr. Laurent Maurice, a French International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) aid worker, after nearly three months in captivity.

The aid worker was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on 9 November 2009 in eastern Chad, while on a harvest assessment mission 10 kilometers from the Sudanese border.

Mr. Maurice was released on 6 February 2010 and was immediately flown to Khartoum where he received medical attention.

UNAMID Joint Special Representative Ibrahim Gambari noted that the release of the aid workers was particularly welcoming, as the Mission too had been faced with a similar ordeal last year when two of its own members were kidnapped, only to be released many months later.

Despite the positive development, an ICRC staffer, abducted in West Darfur on 22 October 2009, remains in captivity. According to reports, the Committee continues to press for his safe and unconditional release.

JSR Gambari stressed the importance of the humanitarian work being undertaken by the United Nations and humanitarian aid workers in Darfur and called upon all parties to refrain from impeding their work.