2 WFP workers killed in South Sudan

April 10, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Unidentified gunmen killed a WFP driver and his assistant in southern Sudan, the United Nations World Food Programme announced today.

This attack brings to five the number of people killed in attacks on WFP humanitarian transporters in Sudan in less than three weeks.

Hamid Dafaalla, 47, a father of four, was shot and killed by unknown assailants while driving his truck in Southern Sudan on Monday, 7 April. His assistant was shot dead while trying to flee.

They were on a return trip after delivering humanitarian food supplies to the town of Rumbek.

The attack occurred six kilometres from Mayom town in Unity State, not far from where two WFP-contracted drivers were stabbed to death on 22 March.

“Attacks against vehicles delivering humanitarian assistance are completely unacceptable. We have met representatives of the Government of Southern Sudan and they have promised a full investigation.” Ebenezer Tagoe, WFP Sudan Deputy Director said.

The killings in Southern Sudan jeopardize the ability of WFP to provide returnees – particularly those returning to their communities of origin in Northern Bahr el Ghazal – with food and threaten the pre-positioning of food assistance ahead of the rainy season starting in May.

Another WFP-contracted driver was shot dead two days later and hisassistant injured while delivering food to Nyala in South Darfur.

Since January of the year there were 60 hijackings of trucks in Darfur, with 42 trucks missing and 29 drivers unaccounted for. These attacks are in addition to the recent killings in Darfur and Southern Sudan.

(ST)