Five years in terrorist hell
A NEW Zealand nurse was abducted by Islamic State more than five years ago and is now missing, authorities have revealed as they make a plea for help in finding her.
Louisa Akavi, now 62, was kidnapped in October 2013 by armed gunman in Syria while doing humanitarian work for the Red Cross and is thought to have since been held by ISIS.
But with victory declared over ISIS in Syria weeks ago, her whereabouts are still unknown and the International Committee of the Red Cross yesterday broke a long-standing silence to make an appeal for information that could help find her and two others, Syrian drivers Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes.
The trio were travelling in a convoy delivering medical supplies in northern Syria when they were stopped by armed men.
Four others abducted were released the following day.
The last credible sighting of Akavi was in December, and the New York Times reported her as working in a clinic in the eastern village of Sousa, one of the final remaining areas that had been held by ISIS.
“What we actually know is that Louisa has been working as a nurse during her abduction which shows her dedication and commitment,” ICRC director of operations Dominik Stillhart said. The organisation says there’s now fear of losing track of Akavi following the fall of ISIS.
Akavi, born in Rarotonga, who has spent more than three decades with the organisation and been involved in 17 field missions, has been held longer than anyone in the Red Cross’ history.
There was a failed attempt by US Special Forces in 2014 to rescue Akavi and other Western hostages, New Zealand media report.
According to the New York Times, the Islamic State had demanded ransoms as high as €20 million ($A32 million) for Akavi’s release.