Middle East

ICRC: Nurse kidnapped by ISIS in 2013 may still be alive

Louisa Akavi, 62, and Syrian ICRC drivers Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes, were abducted while delivering medical supplies to Idlib, in northern Syria, in October 2013. Four other members of the convoy who were abducted by ISIS were released. The aid group had kept Akavi's name secret in a bid to keep her alive, working behind the scenes to try to secure her release. The ICRC said its last "credible information" regarding Akavi's well-being came in late 2018, but it had never been able to ascertain the fates of Rajab or Bakdounes.Dominik Stillhart, director of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that the organization believed that she continued to provide medical care, even while in captivity. "There is obviously much we don't know about Louisa's day-to-day life in recent years. We know that she is a nurse who has been held by (ISIS)," a statement reads. "We know that she has provided medical care to people in the community where she was held. Even as a captive, she remained consistent with her humanitarian roots as a nurse in a conflict zone helping people in need."The fall of the group's so-called caliphate in late March provided an impetus to make the search public, the statement said."Following the fall of the last territory held by Islamic State group, we fear there is an extra risk of losing track of Louisa, though we remain hopeful this period will instead open new opportunities for us to learn more about her whereabouts and well-being," Stillhart said."We call on anyone with information to please come forward. If our colleagues are still being held, we call for their immediate and unconditional release."In a short video statement, family spokesman Tuaine Robati said they remained concerned for her but also spoke of their pride in her work. "Our family misses her very much and is concerned for her safety. Louisa is an incredibly experienced nurse and aid worker who knew the risks of her job. Our family is very proud of her."He said the family had been in frequent contact with the ICRC, the New Zealand Red Cross and the New Zealand government.

'Skilled, compassionate and resilient'

The 62-year-old humanitarian has worked with the organization since 1987, according to a post on the New Zealand Red Cross site, and is the recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal, described by the ICRC as its "highest honor, awarded to nurses that demonstrate exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster."Her mission to Syria was her 17th field mission with the organization, New Zealand Red Cross Secretary General Niamh Lawless said at a press conference on Monday. In addition to Syria she had been deployed to countries including Somalia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Akavi has "dedicated her life to those affected by war and violence, and she went to Syria because people needed her," according to Lawless, who described her colleague as "highly skilled, compassionate and resilient." She is a "friend, a colleague and a mentor" who wanted to "use her skills to make a difference for some of the world's most vulnerable people," she added. She has now been held captive longer than anyone in the 156-year history of the ICRC, Stillhart said.

Special forces deployed in search

On Monday, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said his government had worked since 2013 to locate and repatriate Akavi. &quRead More – Source

[contf]
[contfnew]

CNN

[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]

Related Articles

Middle East

Israel PM ‘flew to Saudi Arabia for secret talks with crown prince’

bbc– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly flew to Saudi Arabia on...

Middle East

Lebanon’s unfinished revolution: One year after protests, change has yet to come

Issued on: 21/10/2020 – 12:18Modified: 21/10/2020 – 14:28 It's been one year...

Middle East

Israel lauds UAE delegation visit as ‘making history’, Palestinians deem it ‘shameful’

Issued on: 20/10/2020 – 14:27 In an historic first visit by a...

Middle East

Iran rules out weapons ‘buying spree’ as UN embargo is set to expire

Issued on: 18/10/2020 – 07:42 Iran said it was self-reliant in its...