JERUSALEM (JTA) — Three Israeli aid workers were airlifted out of South Sudan amidst intense fighting following a coup attempt.

The Israelis were rescued by the United Nations, along with members of other international NGOs, the Times of Israel reported.

IsraAID director Shachar Zahavi told The Times of Israel on Thursday that the group’s employees are on their way back to Israel. Zahavi told the news website that the group intends to return to South Sudan as soon as the situation calms down.

Earlier this week the organization suspended its operations in the country and went on lockdown after Salva Kiir, the president of South Sudan, which became an independent country in July 2011, announced that he had successfully put down the coup attempt by soldiers loyal to former Deputy President Riek Machar, whom Kiir dismissed over the summer. Intense fighting followed the coup attempt.

IsraAid runs programs in Juba focused on gender, social development and security sector reform. South Sudan and Israel have some defense and trade ties, and many Israel. In recent weeks IsraAid also has been active in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.