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Doctors Without Borders Staffers Kidnapped in Darfur

Abductions follow Sudan crackdown

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:02 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Three aid workers from Doctors Without Borders are being held hostage in Darfur after a group of armed men kidnapped them, Reuters reports. The three staff members, all Westerners, were seized along with two Sudanese co-workers who were later released. The kidnapping came as Sudan cracks down on NGOs in Darfur after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir.

Sudan ordered 16 aid organizations, including two arms of Doctors Without Borders, to leave the country after the warrant was issued. MSF identified the hostages as a Canadian nurse, an Italian doctor, and a French coordinator. The kidnapping took place deep in north Darfur, where the Belgian arm of MSF runs a health clinic that serves tens of thousands of people.

Vehicles are seen in front of the offices of Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medicins Sans Frontiers, in Khartoum, Sudan Thursday, March 12, 2009.
Vehicles are seen in front of the offices of Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medicins Sans Frontiers, in Khartoum, Sudan Thursday, March 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
A worker walks into the offices of the Belgian branch of the aid group 'Doctors Without Borders' known also as 'Medicins Sans Frontiers', MSF in Khartoum, Sudan Thursday, March 12, 2009.
A worker walks into the offices of the Belgian branch of the aid group 'Doctors Without Borders' known also as 'Medicins Sans Frontiers', MSF in Khartoum, Sudan Thursday, March 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
In this Tuesday, April 1, 2008 file photo provided by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), people line up for a measles vaccination by Medecins Sans Frontieres in Lieth, southern Sudan.
In this Tuesday, April 1, 2008 file photo provided by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), people line up for a measles vaccination by Medecins Sans Frontieres in Lieth, southern Sudan.   (AP Photo/Medecins Sans Frontieres, Kevin P.Q. Phelan)
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.   (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
People line up for a measles vaccination by Doctors Without Borders in southern Sudan. Five people working for MSF were kidnapped in Darfur, a week after the government began expelling aid groups.
People line up for a measles vaccination by Doctors Without Borders in southern Sudan. Five people working for MSF were kidnapped in Darfur, a week after the government began expelling aid groups.   (AP Photo/Medecins Sans Frontieres, Kevin P.Q. Phelan)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Mar 12, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
F-----.

The organization's statement about the kidnapping
Medecins Sans Frontieres

 
Darfur • Sudan • kidnapping • Doctors Without Borders • Saraf Omra, Sudan

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