TV crew missing in Yemen
January 22, 2016
Al Jazeera said Thursday that it had lost contact with its crew late Monday as the team was covering fighting between Saudi-backed forces and Iran-allied Houthi militia.
"They were covering events in the besieged city of Taiz, reporting on the human cost of the conflict. Our colleagues were simply doing their job of reporting the story and informing the world of what is taking place in Yemen," said Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network.
Trio's whereabouts unknown
Missing are Arabic correspondent Hamdi Al-Bukari and technicians Abdulaziz Al-Sabri and Moneer Al-Sabai. Bukari has worked for Al Jazeera Arabic since 2006, the channel said.
The city of Taiz is under the control of Yemen's Saudi-backed government. But it has been besieged by Iran-backed rebels for months.
"Al Jazeera holds their abductors responsible for their safety and security," Souag added.
The UN says more than 5,800 people have been killed in Yemen since March, about half of them civilians. Reporters Without Borders says at least five journalists were killed in Yemen last year.
The full circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the journalists remains unknown, as no group has publicly claimed their capture.
jar/bw (AFP, Reuters)