Fate of 5 aid workers kidnapped by Al-Shabaab unknown

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Fate of 5 aid workers kidnapped by Al-Shabaab unknown

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The whereabouts and well-being of five local aid workers, who were abducted by the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab on June 6, remain unknown, according to concerned family members and colleagues.

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The five aid workers were kidnaped between Farlibah and Beledweyne, Hiiraan region.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – The whereabouts and well-being of five local aid workers, who were abducted by the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabaab on June 6, remain unknown, according to concerned family members and colleagues.

The group of four nurses and their driver, employees of Wardi Relief, a local non-governmental organization, were taken captive while returning from a vaccination and health outreach campaign outside Beledweyne in the Hiiraan region.

The aid workers, consisting of two women and three men, had been deployed to conduct vital community outreach in remote areas with limited access to healthcare services.

Armed al-Shabaab fighters intercepted their vehicle between Farlibah and Beledweyne, and they were subsequently transported to an undisclosed location, according to a colleague familiar with the incident.

Since the abduction, no information or communication has been received from the captives, leaving their colleagues and family members deeply concerned about their welfare and safety.

Despite efforts by clan elders to engage with al-Shabaab and secure the release of the aid workers, their endeavors have proved unsuccessful.

The regional authorities have not issued any official statements regarding the incident, and there has been no visible action taken by the Somali government to protect the kidnapped aid workers.

The absence of intervention raises questions about the level of assistance being provided and the extent of security measures in place.

In the Hiiraan region, a combined force of a clan militia known as Ma’awisley and the Somali army has been engaged in clashes with al-Shabaab since September last year.

The kidnapping of the aid workers occurs amid a growing humanitarian crisis in the area, with thousands of citizens, including internally displaced families, living in dire conditions.

The plight of the kidnapped aid workers highlights the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones and the urgent need for improved security measures to safeguard their lives.