Three aid workers kidnapped in northern Somalia

Three aid workers kidnapped in northern Somalia

2011-10-26 02:40:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

GALKAYO, SOMALIA (BNO NEWS) -- Three aid workers working with a Danish humanitarian organization were kidnapped in northern Somalia on Tuesday afternoon, the group said. Two of them were foreigners.

The incident happened at around 3 p.m. local time in northern Galkayo, which is considered part of Somalia's Puntland province, when three staff members from the Danish Demining Group were kidnapped by gunmen. The victims were identified as a Somali man, an American woman and a Danish man.

The Danish Demining Group works to make civilians safe from landmines and is part of the Danish Refugee Council, which has worked with conflict-affected civilians since 1998. The aid workers were kidnapped after visiting humanitarian projects.

"As a first priority, we have been concentrating on the ongoing investigations. We are keeping close contact with the family members, who are deeply concerned, just as we are," said Ann Mary Olsen, head of the Danish Refugee Council's International Department.

Olsen described the three staff members as 'high experienced' and trained to work in high-risk places such as Somalia, which has been without an effective government since Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown about two decades ago.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal told CNN affiliate TV2 that its office in Africa is collecting information on what has happened. "We are doing everything we can," Sovndal said. "We do not negotiate with kidnappers, but we offer all help and support that we can. But what this help will constitute we can't say until we get all the facts on what has happened."

As a result of the incident, the Danish Refugee Council said it has temporarily put its activities on hold in the area. Olsen also asked the media to respect the privacy of the families involved.

"We have informed the family members and we are in close contact with them," she said. "We are all deeply concerned with the situation, but we request the media to respect the privacy of the families during this difficult time. Media inquiries are the last thing on their minds at this point."

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