The families of the 25 Lebanese servicemen held hostage by Islamist militants on the northeastern border pleaded Thursday for Qatar’s emir to help resolve the 14-month-old crisis.

“This is a humanitarian crisis, not a political or sectarian one … Please help bring our sons back before winter,” a spokesperson for the families said during a press conference after a delegation of the families met with Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk.

The families also called on Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri to resolve the issue “as they promised.”

The families blocked a road outside the Interior Ministry last Friday to protest the procrastination over the crisis, placing blame on the government, Berri and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim for “not ending the crisis,” in what seemed like a new round of moves to push the government into action. They also blocked the airport road with burning tires earlier this month.

ISIS (Daesh) and the Nusra Front have been holding 25 policemen and soldiers hostage since August 2014 when the militants briefly overran Arsal.