"I am extremely happy to see all my friends and colleagues of UNHCR, and I am looking forward to being reunited with my family," said Ali, who is also known as Keynaan, adding that he was deeply grateful to UNHCR and the UN system in general, and to all those who had worked to secure his safe release.

    Ali was abducted more than two months ago, on June 21, 2008, by an unknown armed group. He was taken from his home as he was spending the evening in the family house located near the Somali capital.

    In a UNHCR press release, Ali said he had been treated well during his detention. "I kept telling my captors that I was a humanitarian worker, and that UNHCR was in Somalia to help relieve the sufferings of the population in an impartial manner," he explained.

    He also said that thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) gathered around the UNHCR office on Thursday to celebrate his release.

    "I was greeted by many people, who were happy that I had been set free, because this meant the humanitarian work would go forward. This was very emotional," he said.

    The agency thanked the Somali organizations and civil society members who held demonstrations to call for Ali’s release over the past two months.

    "We are also grateful for all the expressions of public support and solidarity received during the difficult weeks of his captivity," UNHCR said in its statement.

    The agency noted that it would continue to provide aid to displaced civilians across Somalia, where they are suffering from the combined effects of violent conflict, prolonged drought and the current global food crisis.

    UNHCR also offered its sympathies to aid workers who are still forcibly detained in Somalia, noting that the number of abductions and attacks against such workers has increased in recent months.