South African peacekeeper dies after sting by scorpion

September 24, 2008 (AL FASHER) – The African Union-United Nations hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) has lost a South African peacekeeper that was stung by a scorpion in the arid region of western Sudan.

Late Losedi Boitumelo Monaisa, 21 years, was stung by a scorpion on 19 September 2008. “Despite the valiant efforts of the medical team to save her life, she succumbed to the venom of the scorpion leaving behind a six year old daughter,” the mission said Wednesday.

The body of Monaisa of South African Battalion was yesterday flown home after a solemn farewell ceremony organized in her honor by her colleagues

The deputy head of the mission, Henry Anyidoho and UNAMID Force Commander, General Martin Luther Agwai, in their tributes lamented the painful circumstances of Monaisa’s death

Last May a Rwandan peacekeeper developed diabetes and since it was the first time, he went into a comma and died a short while later in Darfur.

(ST)