For No Apparent Reason ICRC Representative Expelled By Government Of Nicaragua, Vatican Is Also Shocked

The ICRC also provided food aid to the people of Nicaragua. (photo; doc. between)

JAKARTA – Domestic political turmoil has made Nicaragua a country that is sensitive to foreign intervention. Recently, the Central American country expelled a senior representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) without any reason.

According to the country's humanitarian group, on Friday, March 25, the expulsion came days after Nicaragua did the same with the Vatican's ambassador, Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag. The Holy See of the Vatican called the incident "incomprehensible".

The ICRC claims to have received a letter notification from the government of Nicaragua that it has withdrawn the residence permit for Thomas Ess's representative in the country

"We do not know the reasons behind this decision, which shocked us," the ICRC said in a statement quoted by Antara. The Nicaraguan government has not responded to a request for comment on the evictions.

Ess has served in the capital Managua since January 2021. Even another ICRC representative, Jordi Raich, was recently awarded the highest civilian award from the government of Nicaragua.

Humanitarian organizations have been key in examining the health conditions of political prisoners who opposed President Daniel Ortega since April 2018. They were detained during protests across the country, the Association of Family Members of Political Prisoners (AFPP) said in a statement.

"Despite the situation, the ICRC reaffirms its commitment to continue their humanitarian work in Nicaragua, based on the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence," the ICRC said.

In a report last Thursday, the ICRC said violence in Central America and Mexico would trigger more migration by 2022.