South Sudan: Kidnapped Samaritan's Purse Aid Workers are Released

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Mar 14, 2017

South Sudan: Kidnapped Samaritan's Purse Aid Workers are Released

The eight Samaritan’s Purse local aid workers who were kidnapped in South Sudan have reportedly been released.

Just yesterday, reports circulated about the hostage situation. South Sudan is experiencing a severe famine, and rebels were thought to have captured the aid workers in order to demand food shipments.

As ChristianHeadlines.com earlier reported, 100,000 people in just a single state of the country face starvation.

CBN News, however, reports that the hostages have already been released.

In a statement, Samaritan’s Purse said they are "thankful to God for the safe release of our South Sudanese national staff, who had been detained by armed personnel in the Mayendit area of South Sudan."

"They were all released Tuesday afternoon local time," the statement added.

Contrary to belief, the kidnappers did not demand food or have any other ransom request.

In addition to the 100,000 people in Unity State who face starvation, a total of over seven million total people in the country are in need of aid, according to a UN report.

In addition to the famine, South Sudan has been wracked by fighting between government and rebel forces. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

 

Photo courtesy: Samaritan's Purse

Publication date: March 14, 2017



South Sudan: Kidnapped Samaritan's Purse Aid Workers are Released