Hostages in ‘critical condition’

Around 90 traders and citizens were kidnapped when they were ambushed by gunmen on the way from Kabkabiya to Golo area on 11 September 2012, Radio Dabanga reported last month. The gunmen demanded a ransom of nearly 2.7 billion Sudanese Pounds (SDG). The health of the hostages is deteriorating and two of them are in critical condition sources told Radio Dabanga on Saturday October 20. A hostage’s relative disclosed to Radio Dabanga they are facing extremely difficult conditions due to illnesses and the lack of medication and health care. The relative added that the hostages also suffer from a lack of food; they are provided with a single meal a day in the form of porridge (‘asida) mixed with water. He disclosed that the number of hostages has decreased to 16, as some managed to escape and others were released in the mean time. The gunmen decreased their ransom demand to 200 million SDG instead of 2.7 billion. It was added that the hostages have been taken from the area of Khor Ramla to the area of Bashara al-Tayyeb, north of Nertety in Central Darfur. According to the relative, the hostages are being forced to do the harvest work on farms.See also: Relatives of Khor Ramla hostages call for release (26 September 2012)