WFP Calls For Immediate Release Of Abducted Staff Member In South Sudan
JUBA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is deeply concerned about the safety of one its staff members who was taken at gunpoint from the Malakal airport Thursday by eight armed men wearing plain clothes.
“We have not heard from our colleague for almost 24 hours, and we are extremely concerned about his well-being. WFP demands that his captors release our staff member unharmed,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP’s Acting Country Director in South Sudan.
WFP is working urgently to secure the safe release of its staff member, and urges South Sudan’s government and security forces to do everything within their power to see that the captured aid worker is freed quickly and uninjured.
WFP calls on all parties to recognize and respect the impartiality, neutrality and independence of humanitarian workers who are delivering lifesaving assistance to millions of people in need in South Sudan.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food in emergencies and working with communities to build resilience. In 2013, WFP assisted more than 80 million people.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
George Fominyen, WFP/Juba, Mob. +211 922 465 247
Challiss McDonough, WFP/Nairobi, Tel. +254 20 762 2179, Mob. +254 707 722 104