UN: Drivers of humanitarian trucks are held hostage by hijackers in northern Ethiopia

United Nations, New York : December 14, 2014 - Some drivers of 18 commandeered trucks of aid are being held in northern Ethiopias Amhara region.

This is according to a UN spokespersonFarhan Haq (Deputy Spokesman) for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that "The World Food Programme" (WFP), and its partners (non-governmental organisations (NGOs) strongly condemned the taking over of their trucks and assets and forcible threats made to staff.Some drivers remain detained.

He said that on Friday, "an unknown number of individuals armed with weapons -- possibly from Ethiopias National Defence Forces or an allied military force -- invaded the Disaster Risk Management Committee complex in Kombolcha" and took 18 WFP trucks forcefully.WFP informed the UN Headquarters in New York Monday morning that 15 trucks were returned by hijackers.

However, the location of several drivers remains unknown.Xinhua reported.

Haq said that the WFP informed the Ethiopian government about the thefts and Dessie authorities are helping to recover the trucks.The trucks were used "for their own ends" by individuals.

Haq said to Xinhua, that although WFP had reported missing drivers, he didnt know the exact number.The spokesman said the drivers were not among the UN staff detained in November by federal authorities in Addis Ababa and the embattled Tigray region, north of Amhara.

While Haq had no information on the truckers, he added, "We still have under detention 10 staffers and two dependents," referring to the earlier federal detainees.He said the WFP and partners reiterate that "under international humanitarian law, it is prohibited to attack, destroy, misappropriate or loot relief supplies, installations, material, units, or vehicles."Attempts to reach a WFP spokesperson were unsuccessful.int/khz/ #Drivers #humanitarian #hostage #hijackers #northern #Ethiopia #Antonio Guterres #New York #New York .