Gunmen have kidnapped a German nurse working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Somalia, the Swiss-run aid agency said on Thursday.
Armed men broke into the ICRC residential compound in the Somali capital Mogadishu late Wednesday and abducted the female nurse.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague,” said Daniel O’Malley, the deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia. “She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia’s most vulnerable people.”
The Geneva-based organisation gave no details on the identity of the nurse or the gunmen in its statement but said it was in contact with various authorities to secure her release.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction.
Aid workers are the regular target of abductions and attacks in the Horn of Africa nation, which suffered drought and famine-like conditions last year.
At least 30 humanitarian workers were killed in Somalia between 2016 and 2017, according to the United Nations. In 2017, more than 30 humanitarian aid workers were abducted.
Somalia is home to the Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab extremist group which stages regular attacks in the capital and holds large swathes of the country.
More
More
Swiss pledge funds for ICRC’s humanitarian efforts
This content was published on
The Swiss government has decided to support the Geneva headquarters of the ICRC with an annual contribution of CHF80 million ($83.9 million).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
ICRC chief outlines humanitarian challenges for 2018 at WEF
This content was published on
Speaking as part of a panelExternal link at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday Maurer refuted the claim that humanitarian organisations failed to act in time in Myanmar to protect the Rohingya people despite awareness of tensions. “You rarely know when the degradation and spiral will happen. We see fragile contexts but don’t…
ICRC president warns over ‘explosive mix’ of urban conflicts
This content was published on
Peter Maurer, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) takes a look back at 2017, and dares a glimpse into the future.
This content was published on
News that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had uncovered fraud in its Ebola operation caused dismay.
This content was published on
The Cameroonian army has freed twelve European hostages, including seven Swiss nationals, announced the Cameroonian authorities on Wednesday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.