Two staff members from the Danish Refugee Council’s demining unit remain unaccounted for, after yesterday’s kidnapping. The Danish Refugee Council is conducting ongoing investigations while at the same time continuing the relief work in large parts of Somalia.

The two international staff members, who were kidnapped in Galkayo in the northern Somalia, are still not released. One is a Danish man and an American woman. The Somalian aid worker, also missing, is now in the custody of the local police, and his role in the incident will be further investigated. At this point, the Danish Refugee Council have no further comments on this matter. In response to the kidnapping, The Danish Refugee Council activities in the area are temporarily on hold in Galkayo. In other parts of Somalia, the relief work and demining activities continues.

“We are very sad about the incident. At the moment Somalia and the rest of Horn of Africa is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. People are in acute need of relief aid and it is quite tragic that we are targeted like this,” says Ann Mary Olsen, head of the DRC international department.

The Danish Refugee Council assists up to 450.000 people in Horn of Africa, people who are in acute need of emergency assistance due to conflicts and drought.

“We have good contacts in the country. For the moment, we are working closely with the local authorities and we are all aiming to resolve the situation as soon as possible,” says Ann Mary Olsen, who is thankful for all the support the Danish Refugee Council has received from authorities, Ngo’s, and from the people in the region as well as in Denmark.

The Danish Refugee Council has since 1998 been working in the region in close cooperation with the Somali local community. In such a difficult time, where the Somali people are already facing extreme difficulties due to conflicts and drought, it is essential to collaborate in order to secure access for humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

Out of consideration for the safety of the two international staff members, The Danish Refugee Council will not elaborate further details on the current situation.

All media inquiries should be directed to the Danish Refugee Council in Copenhagen. News concerning the situation from Danish Refugee Council will be posted on www.flygtning.dk

Back to: News