In October 2011, Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut were abducted from the Ifo 2 refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya, where they had been working to help some of the most vulnerable members of the Somali population. They were then transferred to Somalia and they are still being held against their will.

While continuing to work for their release, MSF once again condemns this heinous and cruel act of violence perpetrated against humanitarian workers and reiterates its demand for their immediate release.

The Thiebaut and Serra families have expressed their concern and anguish over the kidnappings and remain committed to doing everything they can to gain the release of Blanca and Montserrat. Through MSF, they wish to thank the media and other local, national and international institutions for the caution and discretion they have shown with regard to the abduction, and MSF requests that all such discretion continue to be observed.