The International Committee of the Red Cross or ICRC on Friday facilitated the release of 24 persons detained in Wau in relation to the conflict in South Sudan.
ICRC in a statement says this week marks the first releases of prisoners it supervises following the signing of the latest peace agreement.
‘Our role in this week’s releases was to first ensure that all detainees were handed over voluntarily and that they had the opportunity to confidentially share their concerns,’ says Fran√ßois Stamm, the head of delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan.
‘We then facilitated the releases themselves, safely transporting the former detainees to different parts of the country when necessary, and always with their consent’, he adds.
The leader says their medical workers were present at the releases to assess the detainees’ health condition and make sure they are fit to travel.
‘We offered our services to all sides of the conflict, and confirmed our readiness to act as a neutral facilitator for the release of detainees as requested,’ Stamm pledges.
The latest Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan mentions the ICRC as a facilitator for the release of persons detained in relation to the conflict.
The ICRC facilitated several release operations earlier this year.
It also regularly visits detainees in the places where they are being held in order to monitor their conditions and treatment.