- Title: ICRC aid worker freed in Afghanistan
- Date: 16th January 2017
- Summary: KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (JANUARY 16, 2017) (REUTERS) THOMAS GLASS, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) IN AFGHANISTAN WALKING AND SITTING DOWN FOR INTERVIEW CLOSE OF GLASS'S HANDS TYPING ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) IN AFGHANISTAN, THOMAS GLASS; SAYING: "First off, we're extremely happy to confirm the release of our colleague Juan Carlos who is now back with our ICRC team and is safe. He's been through quite a difficult ordeal during his abduction, which lasted four weeks. But despite all of this he is in good health and good spirit and we're very, very happy to have him back among us." LOGO OF THE ICRC (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) IN AFGHANISTAN, THOMAS GLASS; SAYING: "Our priority is to help Juan Carlos back with his family as soon as possible." GLASS WORKING ON LAPTOP
- Embargoed: 30th January 2017 12:29
- Keywords: Afghanistan ICRC Red Cross kidnapping aid worker
- Location: KABUL AND KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN
- City: KABUL AND KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN
- Country: Afghanistan
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZBZ2VB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
Spanish employee of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been released less than a month after he was kidnapped by gunmen in northern Afghanistan, the aid group said on Monday (January 16).
The staff member, identified by the ICRC only as Juan Carlos, was traveling with three Afghan colleagues between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz on December 19, 2016, when gunmen stopped the vehicles.
The other ICRC staff were immediately released, but Juan Carlos was held for nearly four weeks.
Thomas Glass, the head of communication for ICRC in Afghanistan said Carlos had been through a difficult ordeal during his abduction.
"But despite all of this, he is in good health and good spirit and we're very, very happy to have him back among us," Glass added.
The aid group thanked Afghan authorities and community members who helped secure the man's release, but would not identify the abductors and their motives, or provide any details on how the employee was freed.
International aid organizations have faced a spate of kidnappings last year, including several foreigners snatched from downtown Kabul.
The incidents have led many organizations to boost security and curtail travel for employees. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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