UN blue helmet attacked in Darfur

UN blue helmet attacked in Darfur

2010-11-06 03:28:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

DARFUR, SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- A United Nations blue helmet on Friday was attacked and wounded in Sudan's troubled region of Darfur by unidentified assailants.

The soldier was serving in the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force. He was on guard duty at a water point in Kutum, North Darfur.

Suddenly, a group of unknown gunmen shot at the blue helmet, injuring him. UN-African Union troops rushed to the spot and returned fire at the assailants. Due to the opposition presented, the attackers fled the scene as the troops continued fighting back.

The wounded soldier of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was rushed to a nearby medical center where he received treatment before being transported to the mission's hospital in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur.

The blue helmet is reported to be in stable condition. UNAMID appealed to the Sudanese authorities to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

UNAMID was established by the Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003.

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