Three UNAMID peacekeepers injured in East Darfur

December 20, 2014 (ED DAEIN) – Unidentified gunmen ambushed Pakistani peacekeepers in Sudan’s East Darfur state on Saturday, injuring three, in the latest attack on the African Union United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), officials said.

A UNAMID official told Sudan Tribune that the Pakistani soldiers were wounded when a group of unidentified gunmen ambushed a patrol of peacekeepers in Umzahima valley of Labado area, Yassin county.

He further said the patrol members managed to control the situation after a clash that lasted for a quarter of an hour, adding they inflicted serious casualties on the assailants without further details.

The official who preferred to speak under the condition of anonymity said the attackers meant to seize the vehicles of the peacekeepers but they were forced to flee.

The wounded Pakistani soldier were transported by helicopter to a UNAMID medical center in Sigeira area, east to the South Darfur capital Nyala.

Last week unknown gunmen carjacked two UNAMID vehicles in Gharabshi, South Darfur state, after stripping the peacekeepers of their weapons and belongings.

Sudanese officials say the hybrid mission has become a security burden because the Sudanese army has intervene to protect them.

The mission fulfils its mandate under bad conditions as the government demands the departure of its soldiers who are subjected to attacks by gunmen from the pro-government and rebels groups alike.

(ST)

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