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UN condemns abduction of its fourth aid worker in Somalia this year

UN condemns abduction of its fourth aid worker in Somalia this year

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The United Nations today condemned the abduction of a Somali national working for a UN relief agency in the capital, Mogadishu - the fourth such kidnapping this year.

Armed men captured Mohamed Farah Omar, a national project staff member of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on Tuesday as he was leaving his home for the office. He is the second person working with the FAO Food Security Assessment Unit to be taken hostage this month.

"The UN is concerned about the welfare of the abducted staff member, and is working to secure the unconditional release of Mr. Omar," the Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia said in a statement issued in Nairobi, where the UN's operations are based.

"The UN condemns criminal acts that interfere with its mandate to provide humanitarian assistance to the Somali people, and asks all responsible leaders to work together for the immediate release of Mr. Omar," the statement said.

The other three kidnapped UN staffers have all been freed.