Yemen local NGO, Gift of the Givers announced on Tuesday it is assisting the Yemeni officials in securing the release of a South African couple who was kidnapped in the southern city of Taiz on May 27.
Pierre , an English school teacher and Yolande Korkie, a pre-primary teacher came to Yemen four years ago from South Africa to pursue Pierre's ambitions. The couple traveled to Taiz to oversee the development of an hotel, whic project they have invested money in.
Several weeks into their kidnapping, officials are looking at how best to approach the situation, the breakthrough came by way of Gift of the Givers, the largest disaster response NGO of African origin on the African continent. Gift of the Givers has delivered life saving aid in the form of Search and Rescue teams, medical personnel, medical equipment, medical supplies, medicines, vaccines, anti-malarial medication, high energy and protein supplements, food and water to millions of people in 37 countries, South Africa included.
GOTC explained in statement, “Anas al-Hamati, Gift of the Givers Yemen project manager, contacted the Yemeni president's office and the foreign ministry and has been granted full co-operation by these and all government institutions ...Given our extensive humanitarian activities in Yemen since August 2012..”
Anas al-Hamati has already met with South Africa Ambassador to Saudi Arabia as his portfolio includes Yemen.
While very few informations so far have been made public, it was established that Pierre and Yolande were abducted by al-Qaeda operatives and transported from Taiz to Ibb (central province of Yemen situated south of the capital, Sana'a).
“It appears that Pierre and Yolande were abducted by nine members of Al-Qaeda. The information received points to the hostages being held in Ibb province in one of the villages there,” the NGO told the press.
“Anas is on his way there today (Tuesday) to meet the head of security. The Yemeni government has extended all facilities and personnel to us in areas where they are in control," it added.
GOTC is now using Anas al-Hamati's tribal connection to broker a deal with al-Qaeda and arrange for the couple's earliest release.