After being taken hostage by armed militia on March 8 and then detained by the government of Sudan, Peter Lujana, a Sudanese national, of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) was released and arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, where family members and ADRA staff greeted him with traditional African songs.

“It is a relief to have Peter restored to his family,” said Ralph Watts Jr., ADRA president. “We appreciate the efforts of all who helped bring about this happy conclusion.”

During the initial attack on ADRA’s compound in southern Sudan, two people—a women and young girl, both from a nearby village—were killed and four ADRA workers were captured. Two, both Kenyan, were released on April 1 after a request by Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi during a two-day visit to Khartoum. A third worker was released April 22. Reasons for the abduction and detention are still unclear.

ADRA operates in southern Sudan as a member of Operation Lifeline Sudan, a consortium of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. The U.N. Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator coordinates the consortium, which facilitates delivery of aid to war-torn Sudan.

An internationally recognized non-governmental organization, ADRA is active in more than 120 nations. ADRA was granted general consultative status by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in 1997. Additional information about ADRA can be found on its Web site at www.adra.org.