MANILA, Philippines -- The spate of bombings in Mindanao has alarmed the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the family of aid worker Eugenio Vagni, held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf since January, an ICRC official said Friday.

In a statement, ICRC Asia-Pacific chief Alain Aeschlimann said the series of explosions in Mindanao, particularly the bombing near a church in Jolo, Sulu, has troubled the ICRC and Vagni's family in Italy.

“The news of this week’s incident in Sulu was particularly disturbing to Eugenio's family and also to his friends and ICRC colleagues,” Aeschlimann said.

The organization was also worried about the safety of the people of Sulu and the other affected provinces.

“We are of course concerned about the well-being of the entire civilian population in Sulu. We would like to offer our condolences to the families of people killed or injured in recent bombings, not only in Sulu province but in Central Mindanao as well,” Aeschlimann said.

The ICRC appealed for Vagni's unconditional and immediate release. Vagni, along with two other ICRC workers who have been freed, were kidnapped by extremist rebels last January in Jolo.