Breaking: Three MSF Staff Abducted in Darfur

by Michael Bear · 2009-03-12 06:14:00 UTC
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The humanitarian situation in Darfur is growing even worse. This morning, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) confirmed the abduction of three of their staff in North Darfur:

"Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) today, Thursday, March 12, 2009, confirms reports that three of their international staff were abducted last night in Serif Umra, the Sudanese province of North Darfur. Two MSF Sudanese staff were also taken at the same time, however, they have since been released.

The three international staff abducted are a Canadian nurse, an Italian doctor and a French coordinator. All three were working for the Belgian section of MSF."

MSF-France and MSF-Holland were expelled from Sudan last week.  MSF-Belgium, MSF-Switerzland, and MSF-Spain were allowed to remain, but as a result of this abduction, MSF has now decided to withdraw almost all international staff from Darfur.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the MSF staff and their families.

[Thanks to Eric Jon Magnuson for the additional information.]

[Photo of Darfur from www.doctorswithoutborders.org]

Michael Bear
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