Did UK Aid free Hostages?

Paul and Rachel Chandler freed from their traumatic experience at the hands of Somali pirates describe their ordeal. 

The retired couple may have been were reportedly freed on the strength of a ransom paid by a mixture of Somali Government and private investors.  The Chandlers were freed on Sunday after more than a year in captivity.  The Government have been quick to deny reports that at least some of the money put up came from British aid paid the African country's government.

A spokeswoman for the Department for International Development (DfID) said "No part of the UK aid budget has been used to help secure the Chandlers' release, nor to benefit pirates. The British Government does not pay ransoms to hostage takers."  However, in the last couple of years the DfID gave more than £30 million to Somalia which was earmarked for humanitarian relief, health and education.


The couple were snatched more than a year ago during a round-the-world sailing trip when their yacht was overtaken by armed pirates.
 
They were taken to the British High Commission in Kenya to prepare for a flight back to the UK. The 60-year-old said: "We're fine. We are rather skinny and bony but we're fine."  Medical check-ups were available in Nairobi for them.  The Chandlers revealed details of their ordeal. Mr Chandler said: "The worst time was when we had to abandon our home and boat... in the ocean."  His wife agreed that was a terrible time and the other really bad time was when they tried to separate the husband and wife. 

"We were really distraught, we were very frightened at that point. We refused to be separated and we were beaten as a result. That was very traumatic."

The Chandlers had only the vaguest idea of their rescue.  They were told by their captures of their imminent release but having been told similar lies over the 13 months that they were held captive the did not give it much weight.

Mr Chandler, 60, said they had been driven across Somalia, then were left locked in a car to sleep overnight.
"Just after dawn, about 7 o'clock, we were asked to leave and join our rescuer. It was hard to have any feelings really, almost disbelief, it was too good to be true,"


Today Paul had to cope with some sad news.  They have asked the media to give them and their families some time and space to come to terms with the death of his father whilst they were held captive.

They are expected to return to the UK tomorrow.