ICRC facilitates delivery of Turkish workers released by JEM
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover today of five Turkish citizens released by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to a representative of the Turkish embassy in Khartoum. In a statement the ICRC said that the Turkish nationals were placed in the care of the ICRC in North Darfur and transferred on an ICRC aircraft to Khartoum. ‘We assisted in this handover on humanitarian grounds, in our role as a neutral intermediary and at the request of the parties,’ said Pascal Hundt, the head of the ICRC delegation in Khartoum. ‘We coordinated this operation with all parties involved, including the Sudanese government.’The ICRC said it took no part in the negotiations that led to the release of the detainees. Its role ‘consisted in serving as a liaison between the parties and in helping with transport arrangements.’In keeping with its humanitarian mandate, the ICRC stated it is ready to provide support for any similar operation in the future if asked to do so by the parties concerned. JEM confirm transfer of Turkish workers JEM spokesman Jibril Adam Bilal confirmed to Radio Dabanga the workers were safely transferred to El Fasher, in North Darfur on Thursday. He said the workers belonging to a Turkish company were contracted jointly by Sudan and Chad to dig more than 200 water wells in the border area to tighten control of JEM which poses a security threat. Bilal stated the five employees along with four security service personnel including two officers entered the area controlled by JEM to drill wells. He stressed this project was not in the interest of the citizens in Darfur and the movement decided to disrupt the project and detain the Turkish workers along with the security officers. The spokesman added the workers were released following discussions with the Turkish Embassy in Khartoum and delivered in coordination with the ICRC. Bilal also said JEM offered to release the four security personnel in exchange for some of its prisoners of war. A letter was sent to President Al Bashir to facilitate the exchange. Bilal said Al Bashir rejected the offer and as a result the four security personnel have not been released.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover today of five Turkish citizens released by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to a representative of the Turkish embassy in Khartoum.
In a statement the ICRC said that the Turkish nationals were placed in the care of the ICRC in North Darfur and transferred on an ICRC aircraft to Khartoum.
‘We assisted in this handover on humanitarian grounds, in our role as a neutral intermediary and at the request of the parties,’ said Pascal Hundt, the head of the ICRC delegation in Khartoum.
‘We coordinated this operation with all parties involved, including the Sudanese government.’
The ICRC said it took no part in the negotiations that led to the release of the detainees. Its role ‘consisted in serving as a liaison between the parties and in helping with transport arrangements.’
In keeping with its humanitarian mandate, the ICRC stated it is ready to provide support for any similar operation in the future if asked to do so by the parties concerned.
JEM confirm transfer of Turkish workers
JEM spokesman Jibril Adam Bilal confirmed to Radio Dabanga the workers were safely transferred to El Fasher, in North Darfur on Thursday.
He said the workers belonging to a Turkish company were contracted jointly by Sudan and Chad to dig more than 200 water wells in the border area to tighten control of JEM which poses a security threat.
Bilal stated the five employees along with four security service personnel including two officers entered the area controlled by JEM to drill wells.
He stressed this project was not in the interest of the citizens in Darfur and the movement decided to disrupt the project and detain the Turkish workers along with the security officers.
The spokesman added the workers were released following discussions with the Turkish Embassy in Khartoum and delivered in coordination with the ICRC.
Bilal also said JEM offered to release the four security personnel in exchange for some of its prisoners of war.
A letter was sent to President Al Bashir to facilitate the exchange.
Bilal said Al Bashir rejected the offer and as a result the four security personnel have not been released.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the handover today of five Turkish citizens released by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to a representative of the Turkish embassy in Khartoum.
In a statement the ICRC said that the Turkish nationals were placed in the care of the ICRC in North Darfur and transferred on an ICRC aircraft to Khartoum.
‘We assisted in this handover on humanitarian grounds, in our role as a neutral intermediary and at the request of the parties,’ said Pascal Hundt, the head of the ICRC delegation in Khartoum.
‘We coordinated this operation with all parties involved, including the Sudanese government.’
The ICRC said it took no part in the negotiations that led to the release of the detainees. Its role ‘consisted in serving as a liaison between the parties and in helping with transport arrangements.’
In keeping with its humanitarian mandate, the ICRC stated it is ready to provide support for any similar operation in the future if asked to do so by the parties concerned.
JEM confirm transfer of Turkish workers
JEM spokesman Jibril Adam Bilal confirmed to Radio Dabanga the workers were safely transferred to El Fasher, in North Darfur on Thursday.
He said the workers belonging to a Turkish company were contracted jointly by Sudan and Chad to dig more than 200 water wells in the border area to tighten control of JEM which poses a security threat.
Bilal stated the five employees along with four security service personnel including two officers entered the area controlled by JEM to drill wells.
He stressed this project was not in the interest of the citizens in Darfur and the movement decided to disrupt the project and detain the Turkish workers along with the security officers.
The spokesman added the workers were released following discussions with the Turkish Embassy in Khartoum and delivered in coordination with the ICRC.
Bilal also said JEM offered to release the four security personnel in exchange for some of its prisoners of war.
A letter was sent to President Al Bashir to facilitate the exchange.
Bilal said Al Bashir rejected the offer and as a result the four security personnel have not been released.