Ban Ki-moon expresses relief after the release of four UN peacekeepers
April 28th, 2010 - 12:15 am ICT by BNO NewsUNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his relief Tuesday after the release of four peacekeepers in Sudan.
The four individuals who have been serving with the joint African Union-United Nations mission in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur were taken into captivity for more than two weeks, but they were finally released Monday.
The unarmed South African police advisers – two women and two men – had been abducted at approximately 4 p.m., local time, on April 11, after departing from their team site in Nyala, South Darfur state, on a seven-kilometer journey back to their private quarters.
Ban expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the Sudanese Government and South Africa in the release of the four peacekeepers. He also emphasized that the safety of all UN and other personnel aiding the people of Darfur is an important priority.
The peacekeepers are believed to be in good health after undergoing medical examinations. They will be flown to their home country to be reunited with their families.
Nearly 22,000 uniformed personnel compose the mission, which was set up in the beginning of 2008 to help end a seven-year conflict between the Government and rebels that has killed at least 300,000 people and driven 2.7 million others from their homes.
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