84 Eritreans freed from traffickers by Sudan security forces
The Sudanese government reported yesterday that a joint force of the security services operations unit and west Kassala security unit managed to free about 84 Eritreans of both sexes at the Karid El Reid Forest in the western part of Sudan’s Kassala state, who were being held by trafficking gangs for smuggling.
Eritreans freed from human traffickers in Sudan (Archive photo)
The Sudanese government reported yesterday that a joint force of the security services operations unit and west Kassala security unit managed to free about 84 Eritreans of both sexes at the Karid El Reid Forest in the western part of Sudan’s Kassala state, who were being held by trafficking gangs for smuggling.
Government sources said that the joint force ambushed the smugglers, arrested nine members of human trafficking gangs and seized their weapons.
The sources pointed out that the hostage taking was for the purpose of ransom ranging from 40,000-60,000 Eritrean Nakfa (ERN), equivalent to approximately $2,700 – $4,000*.
Joint initiative
In April this year, the EU and Sudan launched a joint initiative to combat human trafficking and illegal migration in the region. The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa is funding the three-year-initiative. It will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with a budget of €45 million for the entire Horn of Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia).
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