CAIRO: The International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) yesterday confirmed the arrival of Sudanese prisoners of war, captured in Hegilg by the Sudan People Liberation Army, to Khartoum after the Government of South Sudan government released them. “We are extremely pleased to have brought these men back to their home country,” said Melker Mabeck, the head of delegation of ICRC headquarters in Juba. The repatriation took place under the auspices of the Egyptian government, which also provided the air transport to Khartoum. “The repatriation of these 13 men confirms the ICRC as a trusted neutral intermediary, we remind the parties that the ICRC is entitled to access to all prisoners of war in order to carry out its humanitarian work,” expressed Mabeck. He further said that those prisoners were placed under care of representatives of the Sudanese government Thursday in Khartoum. “After being handed over yesterday to the ICRC, the prisoners of war were accompanied by the ICRC delegates they traveled from Juba via Cairo to Khartoum, where they were placed in the care of representatives of the Sudanese government early this morning,” said Mabeck. While they were still in detention the 13 Sudanese prisoners of war were provided by the International Committee of Red Cross with clothing, mosquito nets, soap, sleeping mats and shoes. They were also given opportunity to send family messages to their love ones through the ICRC, explained Mabeck. “We are grateful to the Egyptian government for its support in carrying out this operation and to Sudanese and South Sudanese government for their cooperation,” said head of delegation.” As an impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian organization, the ICRC stands ready to provide support for any similar operation in the future if the parties ask it to do so.” The head of delegation acknowledged the role the ICRC has played during the recent fighting between the SPLA and SAF. He said the International Committee of Red Cross has donated medical supplies to the hospitals in Bentiu South Sudan and Muglad in Sudan and has sent a surgical team to Bentiu.
