Peacekeeper dies of wounds inflicted in Darfur capital

December 29, 2008 (EL FASHER) – A peacekeeping officer died of wounds sustained during an attack on peacekeepers in the government garrison town and capital of North Darfur.

The peacekeeper, who was serving with the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), died today in a hospital in Khartoum after being evacuated from El Fasher, where the attack occurred early Saturday evening.

El Fasher is the largest city of North Darfur. The city’s airport was raided in April 2003 during a joint operation by Darfur’s two main rebel forces, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, but other than that El Fasher has not been contested during the six years of insurgency.

According to a statement issued Sunday by the peacekeeping operation, three unknown attackers shot the peacekeeper in the leg while stealing his vehicle. Two other military officers serving with UNAMID were in the vehicle when it was carjacked. The attackers are yet to be located, but the vehicle reemerged.

Details about the slain man are being withheld at this time pending notification of his family.

Another statement today said, “UNAMID, while appreciative of the efforts of the Sudanese police in combating such crimes, deplores this act of criminal violence which poses a threat to both the safety and security of UNAMID personnel and to the well-being of the Sudanese people whose suffering we are here to alleviate.”

Carjackings in the North Darfur capital became so bad this year that UNAMID created a special unit to combat the attackers with night patrols. It began operating in El Fasher in late November.

About half of UNAMID’s mandated 26,000 personnel are on the ground in Darfur. Last month the mission’s commanding general admitted to facing severe equipment shortages.

(ST)