ICRC staff kidnapped in Lahj

LAHJ, May 12 (YPA) – Militants loyal to the  loyal to the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) kidnapped a crew of  the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Lahj province ,  southern Yemen.

This was reported by Yemen News Portal, based on testimonies of a well-informed source.

According to the  source, this morning, gunmen intercepted a ICRC’s vehicle carrying a team of  mission staff on its way to Aden.

He said the ICRC is negotiating with the kidnappers through local social figures to release its staff away from any official role in the  STC-controlled province and its forces.

Since 2015, the southern provinces have witnessed a widespread security lapse in murders, looting and targeting of staff of international and humanitarian organizations.

Al-Qaeda has been holding five UN staff in Abyan province since early February, as well as Aid Workers of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), their German and Mexican nationality in Hadhramaut province in southeastern Yemen, for the third month in a row.

E.M