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Red Cross kidnapped workers released in eastern DRC | News

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Two workers abducted in North Kivu province last month have been released, according to the head of the ICRC delegation.

Two workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) kidnapped in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo last month have been released, the humanitarian organization said.

The ICRC said in late November that a Congolese citizen and an international worker had been abducted in North Kivu province while dozens of armed groups were working.

“We are excited about the return of our colleagues and are delighted to be able to return to their families,” Rachel Bernhard, head of the ICRC’s Congolese delegation, told Reuters on Saturday.

“We want to reaffirm that this kidnapping and all other attacks on humanitarian workers could jeopardize activities to help communities severely affected by the conflict.”

He did not provide further details on the abduction or subsequent release.

The kidnapping took place on November 30, when a convoy of two vehicles flew from the capital of the Goma region to the Sake area as part of a water supply project.

The area is located in North Kivu province, where the government has imposed a state of siege since May, when one of the two leaders of the Congolese army is in response to violence by rebel groups.

“The threat of kidnappings against foreign nationals has increased, especially since 2016, due to the security gap and lack of security in many areas outside the DRC’s eastern urban areas, especially in areas bordering North Kivu and Rwanda and Uganda,” GardaWorld said. . in his appearance on Saturday.

“Most of the victims are locals, although foreign workers are also targeted.”

The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned of escalating attacks on DRC eastern aid. Three workers from the UN refugee agency were injured on Wednesday in North Kivu when their vehicle was shot dead.



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