Statement on Somalia by Sergio Vieira de Mello, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian affairs

It was with great concern that I learned of the abduction last Friday of a relief worker with Terra Nuova while on a humanitarian mission in the Lower Juba Region of southern Somalia. This incident is particularly regrettable considering that Terra Nuova is the only international NGO with a permanent presence in this part of Somalia.
This is a somber reminder of the need for the international community to take urgent measures to ensure the respect and safeguard the lives of relief workers whose only aim is to help vulnerable civilian populations.

On behalf of the international humanitarian community, I call on those responsible for this act and local authorities to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of this humanitarian worker.