RUF/AFRC guarantee safety of humanitarian workers

The heads of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Foday Sankoh, and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Johnny Paul Koroma, issued a joint statement on Wednesday guaranteeing the safety of humanitarian staff and resources even in times of insecurity. They condemned attacks on humanitarian workers and the looting of resources. “I therefore order that all vehicles, radios, equipment, emergency items and personal possession and all other items taken from humanitarian staff (be) immediately returned to their owners,” they said. The two rebel leaders said any of their followers who violated the safety and security of humanitarian staff and resources would be disciplined and called on combatants to abide by international law and respect the rights of civilian beneficiaries of humanitarian aid. “If humanitarian support is distributed to civilians but gets taken by armed individuals, there will be no more distributions in those areas,” the joint statement said. The international humanitarian community has welcomed the statement, according to a news release issued on Thursday by the UN Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Freetown.