Former humanitarian aid worker Mary Van Lieshout has been appointed as an adviser to President Michael D Higgins and took up her duties yesterday.

Alindao is a UPC stronghold and has witnessed chronic fighting in recent months that has also killed two UN soldiers and a humanitarian aid worker.

For humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones, the choices are even more limited.

The focus is on humanitarian aid workers as opposed to soldiers in the midst of conflict.

The CIA's actions may also jeopardise the lives of humanitarian aid workers in Pakistan, the letter said.

The couple, who live in Hampshire, are humanitarian aid workers and travel to postings around the world.

Nesirky added that MINURCAT has "provided the deterrence necessary" to ensure that humanitarian aid workers have safe access to refugees.

The successful Tuesday night raid to free two humanitarian aid workers from captivity in Somalia is only the most recent and high-profile example.