Montreal nurse Laura Archer is among three members of the group Doctors Without Borders who were kidnapped by unknown abductors in Sudan's Darfur region late Wednesday.

On Thursday, the international aid organization also known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) confirmed Archer had been abducted, along with an Italian doctor and a French field coordinator.

She is originally from Prince Edward Island, but had been living in Montreal in recent years.

Archer, who is also an artist, had previous experience working in Africa. Since joining MSF in 2006, she took on a wide range of responsibilities -- from delivering babies to treating bullet wounds.

In May 2007, after returning from the Central African Republic, Archer told CTV Montreal she painted images of African children to help deal with the emotions she experienced as a result of her humanitarian work.

"It's just a way to process all the things I witnesses and all the things I felt when I was working," Archer said at the time.

Archer added that she planned to go back to Africa, and didn't mind leaving the comforts of home behind.

"I wouldn't call it a sacrifice because I've gained so much from it. Not everyone needs to go to Africa, and give up everything they own and go do it, but I think everyone needs to try and understand a bit."

The abduction

Marilyn McHarg, the general director of MSF Canada, said the staff members were abducted in Serif Umra in Northern Darfur on Wednesday evening.

"Two staff were Sudanese staff, they have since been released. The three international staff are still being held," McHarg said at a news conference in Toronto on Thursday afternoon.

"We have had contact with the staff last night, we have not had any contact since. But when we did have contact, they were fine, they were being treated well and we know that they are in good condition."

Earlier Thursday, MSF press officer Naomi Sutorius-Lavoie told CTV News the organization is still gathering information about the kidnappings and has notified the families of the missing aid workers about their abduction.

"Our thoughts are with the colleagues and families of those abducted. MSF is deeply concerned about their safety and is doing everything it can to determine their whereabouts and ensure their safe and swift return," Sutorius-Lavoie said in an email.

MSF has removed the majority of its staff from all projects in Sudan's Darfur region, but said it will leave a "skeleton team" in place to follow the case of the organization's abducted members.

Local reaction

A friend of Archer's told CTV Montreal he knew she was taking a risk when she left.

"Anybody who knew she was going over, knew the situation she was getting herself into," said John MacLeod. "Darfur is not walking down the street to go and get groceries. Darfur is a war zone. Not just a war zone but a catastrophe."

MacLeod described his friend as the kind of person who is always in a good mood, full of energy, and deeply committed to helping other people.

Sudanese reaction

Hassabo Abdel-Rahman, of the Sudanese government's humanitarian affairs office, called the kidnappings "an isolated and immoral act."

Abdel-Rahman said the kidnapped aid workers had been allowed to call their colleagues to inform them that they were in good health. He said an unknown group was responsible for their abduction.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ali Youssef said Sudan condemned the kidnappings and suggested that the missing aid workers had likely been abducted by a Darfur group.

"We condemn this act, we are following this, we don't have clues, we want to know exactly who did it," Youssef said.

He denied that the Sudanese government was involved in the abduction of the aid workers.

"Why should we detain these," he said. "If the government of Sudan is responsible...we would say so, say that they are under investigation."

Canada investigating

In Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said it was still investigating the reported kidnapping.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade is looking into reports of a Canadian missing in Sudan (Darfur)," spokesperson Emma Welford wrote in an email to CTV News on Thursday morning.

"The Canadian mission in Sudan is working closely with local authorities to gather additional information, and stands ready to provide consular assistance as required. No further information is available at this time."

The kidnappings came only a week after the Khartoum-based Sudanese government kicked 13 aid groups -- including MSF -- out of the country. The groups were ordered to leave Darfur by March 5.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges and crimes against humanity in Darfur, the day before the Sudanese government expelled the international aid groups.

With files from CTV.ca News Staff and The Associated Press