NEW YORK/JUBA, South Sudan, 30 April 2018 – Ten aid workers who had been detained by an armed group since Wednesday, 25 April, outside of South Sudan’s Yei town were released today. The group returned safely to Juba. They have undergone medical checks and are said to be in good health. “It’s a great relief to have our colleagues safely back with us,” said Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “We are grateful to everyone who helped in securing their release, and we again call on all parties to this conflict to not target or obstruct aid staff from carrying out their life-saving work. Incidents such as this must end.”
The aid staff, including two from UNICEF, went missing while driving from Yei to Tore where they were to carry out an assessment of the humanitarian needs.
The aid workers will shortly be reunited with their families and will be provided with psychosocial support and counselling.
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Notes for editors:
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org/southsudan
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For more information, please contact:
James Elder, UNICEF Regional Office, Nairobi, +254 715 581 222 jelder@unicef.org
Tim Irwin, UNICEF South Sudan, +211 912 162 888 tjirwin@unicef.org
Najwa Mekki, UNICEF New York, +1917 209 1804, nmekki@unicef.org