Abducted Indian Catholic priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil has appealed for help in his release in a new video posted on a Yemeni website. Fr Uzhunnalil was abducted by unidentified gunmen in Aden in the Republic of Yemen, in March 2016.

In the video, the priest appears with a strip of cardboard with the date 15-4-2017 written on it. He said in the video that his captors were treating him well “to the extent they are able”. The priest, a native of Ramapuram in Kottayam district, appears weak and said measures initiated for his release by the Government of India and the Bishop of Abu Dhabi had fallen short.

“My health condition is deteriorating quickly and I require hospitalisation as early as possible,” he said in the video. The priest said though his captors had contacted the authorities “several times”, the response was not encouraging. “Neither the Bishop nor the Indian government asked them what they really want to get me released,” he said. Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj had earlier stated that rescue efforts were on and the priest was safe.

Fr Uzhunnalil requested the members of his family to do whatever they could do for his release. In December 2016, he had made a call for help and alleged apathy from the Government of India and the Church, in a video. “I’m from India and therefore, I perhaps am not considered of much value,” he said.

The 57-year-old Salesian priest from the Province of Bengaluru was abducted on March 4, 2016 after gunmen attacked a Missionaries of Charity convent and nursing home for the elderly, killing 15 people including four nuns. He was deputed at the church of St Francis of Assissi in Aden.

Ailing Indian priest abducted in Yemen makes fresh appeal for help