Minister for Development Cooperation Carin Jämtin deeply regrets the news this weekend from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that one of its staff members had been found dead in Port-au-Prince in Haiti. The staff member was kidnapped on 29 June.
"Humanitarian aid workers are protected by international law from attacks of all kinds. It is extremely serious if the protection of Red Cross staff and all humanitarian aid workers cannot be maintained. They are doing very important work in Haiti and we must continue to uphold their safety," says Ms Jämtin.
As a result of floods and political disturbances Haiti is currently undergoing a difficult economic and social development. In the past year Sweden has taken decisions to contribute more than SEK 20 million to humanitarian assistance via the UN, the Red Cross and other organisations to meet the immediate needs that have arisen as a result of these difficulties.
Contact
John Zanchi
Press Secretary
+46 8 405 59 39
+46 70 2602664
john.zanchi@foreign.ministry.se
Henrik Bergquist
Desk Officer
Department for Global Development
+46 8 405 18 26