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Charity plea over kidnapped pair Irish bid to find kidnapped women
(2 days later)
The head of an Irish charity whose aid workers were kidnapped in Darfur has appealed for their safe return. A high-level meeting is to take place in Sudan over the kidnap of an Irish aid worker.
Goal chief executive John O'Shea said he was very concerned for Irish woman Sharon Commins, 32, from Dublin, and Ugandan colleague, Hilda Kuwuki, 42. Sharon Commins, 32, from Dublin and her Ugandan colleague Hilda Kuwuki, 42, were captured by a gang of armed men near Kutum, northern Darfur, on Friday.
They were taken hostage by six armed men at a compound in the town of Kutum, northern Darfur, on Friday. An Irish Government delegation including trained hostage negotiators, led by the Ambassador to Egypt Gerard Corr, flew to Khartoum on Sunday.
"We have had no contact with the kidnappers and we are very concerned for their safety," Mr O'Shea said. Ms Commins works for the charity, Goal, which has 1,600 people in Sudan.
"We have no indication as to who did this or why and I would appeal directly to the kidnappers to immediately release both these women who are valued colleagues of ours. Goal chief executive John O'Shea said he hoped the meeting would clarify who was holding her.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Sharon and Hilda at this very difficult and distressing time." Mr O'Shea said he told the investigation team that six men armed with AK-47 assault rifles also took mobile phones and a computer belonging to the aid agency.
The Dubliner had been working in the region for a year. "That suggests to us - but I can only say suggests - that they might be interested in having our contact details," he said.
Armed men forced the women into a vehicle along with a Sudanese security guard who was thrown from it as local police gave chase, Mr O'Shea added. "It gives us a little hope that they will make contact. Because obviously if we are not able to find them, we would like them to find us."
An official team headed by the Department of Foreign Affairs is travelling to Khartoum and Darfur to consult with the Sudanese authorities and international organisations. Some members of the Irish team are holding talks with embassies and authorities in the city while others have travelled on to Darfur.
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin called for the immediate release of the captives, and said the Irish government would do everything possible to bring that about. The Irish Ambassador to Uganda, Kevin Kelly, is also in talks with the government.
"While the identity and motive of the abductors is not yet known, there have been two recent cases in which kidnapped aid workers were released unharmed after a few weeks in captivity. A security guard, who worked along with Ms Commins and Ms Kuwuki for Goal and was thrown from the captors' car as they fled with the two women, has been interviewed.
"While I very much hope that Sharon and Hilda are freed immediately, my overriding concern is that they come to no harm," he said. Goal, has pulled its remaining workers from the Darfur region until Ms Commins and Ms Kuwuki are found.
Irish President Mary McAleese has expressed deep concern at the disappearance of Ms Commins. Ms Kuwuki is an expert in nutrition and Ms Commins, who has been in Sudan a year-and-a-half as project manager and report writer, is a former press officer for the humanitarian relief group in Dublin.
"The President has conveyed to the Commins family her sincere hope that Sharon will be returned to safety as soon as possible, along with her colleague, Ms Hilda Kawuki," a spokeswoman said. She obtained a Masters in international relations from Dublin City University (DCU).
It is the third time foreign aid workers have been kidnapped in Darfur since March. Officials from Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs are also in touch with their UN and British counterparts.
The UN says 300,000 people have died and more than two million fled their homes since fighting erupted in 2003 between black-African rebel groups and the Khartoum government. Goal has been working in Sudan for the past 24 years and runs clinics, schools and feeding centres open to all. The area where the group operates has been peaceful. A total of 13 other aid agencies were evicted from Darfur several months ago but Goal had remained unaffected.
It is the third kidnapping of foreign humanitarian workers since March.