Afghanistan: An appeal for the safe and unconditional release of ICRC staff
| Publisher | International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) |
| Publication Date | 18 February 2017 |
| Cite as | International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Afghanistan: An appeal for the safe and unconditional release of ICRC staff, 18 February 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58b048bf4.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling for the safe and unconditional release of two staff members abducted when their convoy was ambushed on 8 February in Jawzjan province, an attack that resulted in the killing of six ICRC staff members.
"We call on the abductors' sense of humanity and request the immediate, safe and unconditional release of our colleagues," said the head of the ICRC delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. "We also ask that any action that could endanger their lives is avoided. We do not want the agony and heartache of this tragedy to deepen."
We also appeal to all authorities and armed groups operating in the area to do their utmost to secure the safe release of the two ICRC staff members, and to avoid taking any action that could endanger their lives.
The ICRC has been active in Afghanistan for three decades, impartially assisting victims of the conflict with medical care, food assistance, family contacts and the dignified handling of human remains. It is a neutral, impartial and independent organization whose sole mission is strictly humanitarian.
Following the unjustifiable killing of six staff members and the abduction of two others, all ICRC activities in Afghanistan have been put on hold.
