GENEVA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said here on Tuesday that its two staff abducted by an armed group in February in Afghanistan have been set free.
"We are relieved and grateful that our colleagues are now back with us unharmed," the Geneva-based organization quoted its external head of delegation in Afghanistan, Monica Zanarelli, as saying.
The two ICRC staff members went missing in a deadly attack, which also killed other six Red Cross colleagues.
"Their abduction and the killings of our six colleagues were emotional agony for all of us, especially for their families and friends," said the organization.
ICRC President Peter Maurer tweeted: "Relieved that our colleagues abducted in #Afghanistan have been released. Respect for humanitarians is imperative. We are #NotATarget."
The two staff members were abducted on Feb. 8 while on their way to deliver assistance in Jawzan province along with six other ICRC personnel (in all, three drivers and five field officers).
Their relief convoy was attacked in an area south of the town of Shibergan and six staff members were shot and killed.
The ICRC did not comment on the identity of the abductors, their motives or the details of the release.
The Swiss national broadcaster, however, speculated on its website, Swissinfo, that it was suspected that the Islamic State gunmen carried out the attack as it noted that numerous armed groups are present in northern Afghanistan.
The ICRC team had been transporting relief and livestock supplies to areas affected by heavy snow and avalanches in the north of the country.
The ICRC said that kidnapping have been a major problem in Afghanistan for many years. Most victims are Afghans abducted for ransom, but foreigners or Afghans working for foreign organizations have also been targeted.
