Sudan: ICRC facilitates handover of released soldiers in Darfur

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 26, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has today facilitated the handover of three members of the Sudanese Armed Forces who were released by the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM). The released soldiers, two of whom needed medical care, were handed over to the Sudanese authorities in North Darfur.

"The SLA-MM and the Sudanese authorities asked us to assist in the transfer of the soldiers in our capacity as a neutral intermediary," said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, head of the ICRC in Sudan. "We remain committed to providing such support in the future, should parties to the conflict ask us to do so."

In April, the ICRC assisted in the repatriation of 13 Sudanese prisoners of war released by the South Sudanese authorities. In July, the organization facilitated the handover of 63 members of the Sudanese armed forces released by an armed opposition group in Darfur, and in September the ICRC repatriated 19 South Sudanese prisoners of war released by Sudan.

The ICRC has been working in Sudan since 1978, and extended its operations to Darfur in 2004, where it provides assistance for victims of the armed conflict and other situations of violence.