Italian aid worker kidnapped in South Darfur

NYALA

(

15 Aug

.) -

MERI employee was heading the cardiology department for children in Nyala hospital

An Italian aid worker with Medical Emergency Relief International (MERI) was kidnapped by unidentified men on Sunday in Nyala, South Darfur.

Francesco Azzara, 34, was taken to an undisclosed location by kidnappers, the Italian Foreign Ministry and MERI told Reuters.

Azzara, who is a specialist in providing logistical support in aid work, was traveling in a car with two Sudanese colleagues driving to the airport when four unidentified armed men, dressed in civilian clothes, stopped them.

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The perpetrators forced all passengers out of the vehicle and took Azzara with them. Azzara was on his second tour of Nyala, where MERI runs a center for the treatment of children since July 2010.

Dr. Mohammad Omar, the medical director of the Nyala Hospital told Radio Dabanga that Azzara was the director of the cardiology department for children in the neighbourhood of Nyala.

The Italian Foreign Ministry is coordinating its search with the local authorities, aid organizations and the United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). It refused to divulge further information about the case, fearing adverse consequences on Lazara’s release.

International aid workers and United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) personnel have been repeated targets for attacks and kidnappings in Sudan.  

Earlier this month, Radio Dabanga reported about the death of one UN peacekeeper in Duma village in South Darfur.

 

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