March 2001 Africa News Headlines

Friday, March 30, 2001 - Web posted at 8:20:17 AM GMT

UN aid workers evacuated from Somalia

NAIROBI - United Nations aid workers freed after being seized by gunmen in heavy fighting in Somalia were evacuated to neighbouring Kenya on Wednesday, witnesses said.

They said the two, an American and a Briton, arrived in Nairobi after a flight from the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Three other aid workers of the Medecins sans Frontieres medical charity freed along with the two UN staff were due to land in Nairobi shortly in a separate plane."

"It was pretty tense.

There were a lot of bullets flying around and we were scared," Jonathan Veitch, a British staffer of the UN Children's Fund (Unicef), told Reuters.

"I feel very good.

I'm happy to be back but sad that four of my friends are still there."

"UN officials said they were in contact with a warlord to seek the release of the four other foreign aid workers still held in Mogadishu.

The four were believed held by Somali warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow, one of several militia chiefs challenging an attempt by a fledgling national government to set up the country's first central administration in a decade.

Asked if he had been in fear for his life, Veitch replied: "It does go through your mind sometimes, obviously."

""It's good to be back," said Sheldon Yett, an American working for Unicef.

"I'm glad to be home.

I was treated well."

" - Nampa-Reuters

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