Six Bulgarian helicopter crew members assisting international aid efforts in Sudan and South Sudan have been released after being held by a rebel group for a week, a UN agency says.
The crew was forced to make an emergency landing on January 23 after coming under fire as their Mi-8 helicopter was flying over a remote area of Sudan's South Kordofan state, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement.
They were held by the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North, which agreed to release them after talks involving the governments of South Sudan and Sudan, the WFP said.
The Bulgarians were delivered safely to a WFP office in Yida, a South Sudanese refugee camp near the border with Sudan, and were airlifted later on Sunday to South Sudan's capital Juba, the Rome-based UN agency said.
"It is regrettable that this incident took place. However we are greatly relieved that the WFP crew members are unhurt and back with us," WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said.
