After 105 days spent in captivity in Sudan, a 35 year old aid worker for the Christian relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse, was released on Monday.
Flavia Wagner was greeted enthusiastically by Samaritan’s Purse co-workers and international security personnel as she arrived at the Khartoum airport. Wagner was clearly exhausted but in good health despite her ordeal.
In May, Wagner and another Samaritan’s Purse employee and a local driver were abducted after their convoy was halted by eight armed men in Sudan’s Darfur region. The three were part of a ten person team engaged in educational assessments in local communities but Wagner was the only non-Sudanese person abducted.
Seven days later the two Sudanese men were released unharmed and without further explanation. Wagner remained in captivity but was allowed to contact family and friends on more than one occasion. Since then the Samaritan’s Purse has worked alongside the U.S. and Sudanese government in efforts to secure her release.
“We thank God that Flavia is safe and free,” stated Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham. “We appreciate the help of the government of Sudan and the United States government.
“People around the world have been praying for her safety and her release. Today, those prayers have been answered,” he added.
At this stage it is not clear exactly when Wagner would be returning home, although she said she is looking forward to being reunited with her family in the U.S.
The Samaritan's Purse, a non-profit organization, has about 548 national and expat staff in the Sudan and seeks to provide immediate response to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations. They work in more than a hundred countries around the globe.
(Photo: Samaritan's Purse)