Darfur aid worker beaten, murdered two days later

March 25, 2009 (EL FASHER) – After being ambushed and beaten on Saturday about 100 kilometres southwest of El Geneina, an aid worker was shot and killed Monday night by two armed men outside his residence in Kango Haraza, West Darfur.

Adam Khatir, a Sudanese staff member of Fellowship for African Relief (FAR), was killed in the attack Monday at 21:00, said a statement from FAR.

“Adam Khatir was the Base Manager in Kongo-Haraza in West Darfur. The motive for the attack is not yet known, and an investigation is pending,” said the international aid organization.

According to the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), four Sudanese staff working for FAR and Tearfund had been ambushed Saturday by armed bandits on camelback as the aid workers returned by motorbike to Kango Haraza from Beida.

Two of the humanitarian workers fled the scene but of the remaining two, one was robbed of personal belongings, including a mobile phone and satellite phone, while Khatir was beaten on the head.

Just two days later, on March 23, Khatir was shot and killed by two armed men, stated UNAMID.

The overwhelming majority of FAR staff is Sudanese, but the organization has a small office in Canada.

“The death of Adam is a great loss to FAR. Adam was a dedicated staff member with a passion for helping the people of Sudan, and a loving husband and father to his wife and children. He will be missed but not forgotten by his family, colleagues and all those he has helped in Sudan,” stated the aid group.

(ST)