Red Cross staffers abducted in Syria

Six staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and one Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) volunteer were abducted Sunday morning in northwestern Syria, an ICRC statement said.

They were abducted by unidentified armed men near Sareqeb in Idlib governorate, Xinhua reported citing the statement.

The ICRC said the team had travelled to Idlib Oct 10 to assess the medical situation in several health structures and to deliver medical supplies to Sarmin and Idlib city.

The convoy, which was on its way back to Damascus, was clearly marked with the ICRC emblem, which is not a religious symbol, said the ICRC.

"We call for immediate and unconditional release of the seven colleagues abducted this (Sunday) morning," said Magne Barth, head of ICRC's delegation in Syria.

"Both the ICRC and the SARC work tirelessly to provide impartial humanitarian assistance for those most in need across Syria on both sides of the front lines, and incidents such as these potentially undermine our capacity to assist those who need us most," he said.

"The ICRC is committed to assisting the Syrian people and will continue conducting its humanitarian activities both in the country and in neighbouring countries for refugees there," Barth said.