LONDON: The Syrian Civil Defense on Tuesday called for the immediate release of volunteer Hamza Al-Amarin, who was abducted by armed groups in Sweida in July while on a humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians and a UN team.
The organization said that Al-Amarin’s continued detention is a “blatant violation of humanitarian norms and international law,” which protect relief and humanitarian workers.
He was kidnapped amid rising tension between armed factions in Sweida, a governorate in southern Syria, which prompted the Syrian government forces to intervene to enforce stability.
The Civil Defense said that targeting Al-Amarin undermines the values and principles of humanitarian work in Syria, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
They did not specify which group is holding him. Communication with Al-Amarin was lost on July 16 while he was on an evacuation mission for a UN team in Sweida province.
It called on the relevant authorities to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities, determine his fate, and ensure his safety. It described him as one of the first responders during Syria’s most challenging circumstances, SANA added.
