Italian aid worker freed in Sudan

A humanitarian worker for the Italian group “Emergency” called Francesco Azzara’ was freed on Friday in Sudan after being kidnapped on August 14. The 34-year-old Italian was captured on the way to Nyala’s airport while he was on his way back from the hospital where he was giving voluntary service. The release took place this Friday after being announced as “imminent” last September 27 by Darfur’s vice-governor. “Darfur’s authorities succeeded to liberate the Italian hostage,” a dispatch from Sudan Media Centre read. The Italian humanitarian organisation Mr. Azzara belongs to confirmed that he is free, although they hadn’t been able to talk to him yet. The Italian Foreign Ministry is currently verifying the information. At the time when he was kidnapped, Mr. Azzara’ was on his second mission in Darfur’s pediatric hospital, recently opened by Emergency. The Italian organisation never stopped publicising his capture. A picture of him was hung on the walls of Rome's city hall a peaceful demonstration was called to ask for his liberation. A source stated that the releasing of the hostage was carried out by security through a military mission, as the authorities are obliged to protect NGOs and workers in the humanitarian field.