Ethiopian rebels: We rescued UN workers after bitter battle with Ethiopian military forces. Ethiopia rebels say they take town, free UN staff

Ethiopia rebels say they take town, free UN staff

JIGJIGA Ogaden (TF.SF) – The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on Thursday claimed that their fighters managed to liberate and rescue recently abducted staff working for United Nations Food Agency after fierce battle with Ethiopian military forces.In an interview with a local radio station, Hussein Mohammed Nur, ONLF’s head of information said launched a well organized attack if receiving information confirming two WFP staffs are in Ethiopian controlled custody in the distrct of Dabashe which lies in Dhagahtur region in Somali region under Ethiopian protectorate.“We rescued them (WFP workers) after they had went missing since 13 May. They are good in health and in a peaceful location” said Nur.He spelled out that international and local newsoutlets will be invited to witness the rescued UN staffs in the days to come.“Ethiopian military have kidnapped them as they witnessed the troops committing mass killing against Somali nomadic and pastoralists following battle with us (ONLF). The Ethiopians also killed WFP driver because they feared to tell mass killing against innocent civilians” he noted. “They (Ethiopian forces) wanted to stifle UN workers from telling the truth” he added.

Last week, UN food agency said a driver working for UN’s World Food Program was gunned down and another staff injured by unknown gunmen in Somali region in eastern Ethiopia. It went on to say that also two others missing in the region.

WFP said it provides food assistance to 4.5 million people in Ethiopia, including refugees and school children in highly food insecure areas.

This is the second deadly attack on a WFP humanitarian worker in less than a month to take place in the region.

However, the president of a Somali region under an Ethiopian protectorate, Abdi Mohmoud Omar, last week charged an Ethiopian rebel group with attacking and killing a driver and kidnapping others working for the United Nations food agency.

Omar said ONLF rebel group is trying to block international relief agencies from reaching the Ogaden region to help drought-affected people.

He called for the international community to arrest ONLF officials abroad, accusing them of helping and financing the armed guerillas.

Nonetheless, Ethiopiahas not confirmed or denied those accusations by its rebels.

Some of this article is sourced from AHN

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