Afghanistan: Abducted ICRC staff member released
| Publisher | International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) |
| Publication Date | 15 January 2017 |
| Cite as | International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Afghanistan: Abducted ICRC staff member released, 15 January 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/587cd0684.html [accessed 19 May 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. |
An ICRC staff member who was abducted on 19 December 2016 in Kunduz province, has been released and is now with the ICRC team in Kunduz.
The ICRC would like to thank the authorities and the communities who have mobilized and played a role in facilitating our colleague's release.
The staff member was abducted while travelling from the ICRC office in Kunduz to the Sub-delegation in Mazar-i-Sharif. While three other colleagues were left unharmed, he was taken and held for almost 4 weeks.
"We are relieved and grateful that Juan Carlos is now back with us, safe and sound," said the ICRC head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli. "His abduction was a terrible ordeal for him, as well as for his family, friends and colleagues."
"Our priority now is Juan Carlos' well-being and getting him home to his family. We would ask everyone to respect his, and his family's, privacy at this time."
The ICRC will not comment on the identity of the abductors, their motives or the details of the release.
Present in Afghanistan for 30 years, the ICRC provides medical care, supports water and sanitation services, visits places of detention and acts as a neutral intermediary to enable humanitarian work to take place throughout the country.
