Silver Spring, Maryland Liberian Defense
Minister, Daniel Chea, today announced that the bodies of two of the Adventist
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) workers missing since Friday, February
28th, 2003, have been found in graves close to the border town of Toe,
according to reports from the Associated Press.
Emmanuel Sharpolu, acting ADRA Liberia
director and Musa Kita, chief driver for ADRA Liberia were on their way
to visit ADRA's Ronda Shelter project funded by the government of Norway
when they inadvertently came in contact with an outbreak of fighting in
this rebel-divided territory.
There are still no details available on the whereabouts of Kaare Lund, 53, ADRA director for Norway, who was traveling with them. Lund began his work with ADRA in 1989 serving as country director in Pakistan. He has a wife and three adult children.
"This news has obviously come as a great shock to all of us as these are three of our most seasoned workers," Charles Sandefur, ADRA International president said. "Emmanuel and Musa have each been with ADRA for at least 10 years and have consistently demonstrated their dedication to the people of Liberia. Our hearts and prayers go out to their wives and children at this time."
Working around the clock with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ADRA is tirelessly seeking confirmation and resolution to this terrible tragedy.
Though continued unrest in the area has significantly hampered fact-finding missions, "everything humanely possible is being done on both sides of the border to obtain additional information," Sandefur continued.
Additional information about ADRA can be found on its website at www.adra.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tereza Byrne
Bureau Chief for Marketing and Development
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904 USA
Voice: 301-680-6398
Fax: 301-680-6370
Cell: 301-7929850
TerezaByrne@compuserve.com