Skaneateles, NY -- A Skaneateles woman is flying home today after being held hostage in Yemen for 16 months, her family confirmed to Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
Sandra Loli, 60, was freed Wednesday from the war-torn Middle Eastern country as part of a deal brokered by the Trump administration. Loli and another U.S. citizen were freed by Houthi rebels in exchange for 240 rebel fighters, according to news accounts.
Loli, an aid worker, was helping install water filtration systems to help provide safe drinking water to millions who lacked access to clean water, her family said in a statement. It’s unclear how or why she was taken hostage.
“I’ve been anxious for her to come home,” said Loli’s 87-year-old father, Gabriel Loli. “It seems like ages since I’ve talked to her.”
The elder Loli said he got the good news from another daughter, who called him Wednesday.
Loli’s husband, Richard Boni, also of Skaneateles, said that his wife was doing well, given the circumstances.
"Our family is filled with immense relief and gratitude that Sam — a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend — has been released and reunited with her family,” Boni said in a prepared statement.
“We could not have gotten through this most difficult time without the boundless love and support of our family, our friends and our community,” Boni added later. “Sam is stable and in good spirits. At this time, we ask for privacy for ourselves and, most of all, for Sam.”
The other person released was Mikael Gidada, a U.S. businessman. Houthi leaders also released the remains of a third American, Bilal Fateen, who died of natural causes while in captivity.
The Houthis toppled Yemen’s government in January 2015 and neighboring Saudi Arabia and other nations have been waging a military campaign against them.
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