Updated on
Summary
Two German aid workers kidnapped in Darfur more than a month ago were released on Tuesday and were flown to Khartoum by the International Committee of the Red Cross.The two Malthi Gola and Werner Stern were working for Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) when they were taken from their compound in Nyala on June 22. Everything was okay we were treated very well. we got enough food and drink so I'm in a good condition, said Malthi Gola on arrival at Khartoum airport. Werner also said all the situation needed was more security. I can just advise everyone to take care of proper security in the house but stopping kidnapping, said Werner. They were taken away for medical check ups after talking to friends and press. Red Cross officials said their role had been to provide the transport for the released pair. The kidnapping occurred just over one month after an American female aid worker from the US Christian charity Samaritan's Purse was abducted outside Nyala. Aid groups in Darfur reported a surge of hostility towards their workers after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in March 2009 for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir to face charges of ordering war crimes in Darfur. Khartoum expelled 13 foreign aid organisations soon after the warrant. A further charge of genocide was added to the ICC charge sheet this month.
