MEMISA hostages in “good condition”

The relief organisation MEMISA - whose workers were taken hostage by rebels of the Forces pour la defense de la democratie (FDD) in southern Burundi and moved to Tanzania - says the six employees are being “well-treated and are in good condition”. A MEMISA official told IRIN on Tuesday they were however being “moved from
camp to camp” each night and were tired from the constant motion. The official added that the organisation is in periodic contact with the FDD and efforts to secure the safe return of the hostages are ongoing. The source was unable to confirm a report by the private Netpress news agency that the rebels have requested medical supplies in exchange for the six hostages.

The six NGO workers were travelling to treat people displaced by Burundi’s civil war in Makamba Province on Friday. The six consist of five health workers and their driver, and include four women. They had been in the Makamba area since last Tuesday, treating and distributing medicine to the local population.