Colombia: FARC hands eight civilians over to ICRC

24-07-2008 News release 08/131

Bogotá (ICRC) – Yesterday, 23 July, in a rural area of Vigía del Fuerte, Antioquia department, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received eight civilians who had been held by the FARC-EP since 17 July 2008.

The operation was the outcome of a strictly confidential dialogue between the parties concerned and the ICRC’s neutral and independent humanitarian action. The civilians were released following a request made by the FARC to the ICRC.

The ICRC will continue to support efforts to find means of obtaining the release of other hostages and detainees in the hands of armed groups.

For further information, please contact:
Yves Heller, Bogotá, ICRC, tel. +57 1 313 86 30 or +57 311 4 91 07 89
Carlos Ríos, Bogotá, ICRC, tel. +57 311 4 91 07 75
Marçal Izard, Geneva, ICRC, tel. +41 22 730 2458 or +41 79 217 32 24