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Red Cross facilitates handover of 18 soldiers in Sudan

Xinhua, September 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday announced here that it had assisted in the transfer of 18 Sudanese Armed Forces personnel released by the Sudan Liberation Army, an armed opposition group in Darfur.

The ICRC said five of its international staff accompanied the 18 soldiers on Sept. 2 and 3, travelling by helicopter to Nyala, South Darfur where the soldiers were handed over to the Sudanese authorities.

After the handover, the ICRC team also helped the released individuals contact their families, who were very relieved to hear news from them.

"Playing the role of neutral intermediary between parties to the conflict is an important part of our mandate, and the Sudanese government and various armed opposition groups trust the ICRC to play this humanitarian role," said the ICRC head of the Sudanese delegation, Eloi Fillion.

The ICRC said it remained ready to provide support for similar operations in the future.

The ICRC has been working in Sudan since 1978 and extended its operations to Darfur in 2003. Endit