UN denounces killing of another aid worker in Darfur
Oct 31, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations Tuesday condemned the death of a humanitarian worker in Darfur, while unknown groups attacked two separate convoys in recent days.
The death of an ICRC staff member, a driver who disappeared during a hijacking incident in North Darfur, brings the number of aid workers killed in the region this year to twelve, almost all in the last two months.
“We are greatly saddened by the death of another humanitarian worker in Darfur, and our thoughts are with his family and colleagues,” said Manuel da Silva, the UN’s Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Sudan, “We are particularly distressed that aid workers are being attacked while carrying out their duties, bringing relief and help to the suffering in Darfur. This is completely unacceptable” he added.
On the other hand, United Nations convoys bringing humanitarian assistance to war-torn South Darfur have come under attack by armed men in two separate incidents in recent days, a UN spokesperson said today.
A driver and two passengers suffered minor gunshot wounds when their truck was fired on yesterday while travelling in South Darfur, according to information relayed from the UN Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS). The injuries were not life-threatening and they were being treated in El Geneina hospital.
Over the weekend, another convoy of three UN trucks en route to Zalingei from Nyala, was ambushed by a group of armed men but it was not immediately clear what injuries were sustained in the attack.
Meanwhile, in West Darfur, UNMIS said it has received reports that about 500 Arab militia members, riding horses and camels and supported with Land Cruisers mounted with machine-guns, carried out attacks in several areas there. The African Union Mission in Sudan will investigate reports, the spokesman’s office said.
(ST/UN)