Kidnapped aid worker released in Darfur after 86 days
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Patrick Noonan
A kidnapped humanitarian worker from the World Food Programme (WFP) has been released in Darfur, after spending 86 days in captivity, according to the agency.
WFP says that its staff members are celebrating the release of Patrick Noonan, who is from the United Kingdom.
UN Deputy Spokesman, Eduardo del Buey says Mr. Noonan is looking forward to seeing his family.
"Working as a logistician in Nyala, Noonan had been in Sudan for about two years when he was abducted by armed men on the morning of 6 March 2012, along with a Sudanese driver who was released later that same day. The World Food Programme, along with the United Nation's Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the Government of Sudan authorities and the embassy of the United Kingdom had been working on the release in close cooperation with the relevant local authorities in Darfur." (Duration: 26")
The head of the UN mission in Darfur, Ibrahim Gambari has praised the efforts of the Sudanese government in securing Mr. Noonan's release.
At the same time, he warned that the abduction of aid workers violates international humanitarian law and the perpetrators must be found and prosecuted.
