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.