UN peacekeeper killed in ambush in South Darfur

[News_Editor]

UN peacekeeper killed in ambush in South Darfur

2011-08-06 08:58:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

DARFUR, SUDAN (BNO NEWS) -- One peacekeeper was killed and another was seriously injured on Friday when gunmen opened fire at their vehicle in Sudan's South Darfur, the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reported.

According to the force, the UNAMID vehicle carrying five troops came under attack by four unidentified gunmen at 10.40 a.m. local time in Duma Village, which is located about 37 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Nyala in South Darfur.

Sudan government police transported the victims to a hospital in Nyala, South Darfur's capital, and UNAMID subsequently transported them to a Pakistan Level III hospital where the most seriously injured underwent surgery.

UNAMID military police are assessing the scene of the incident while Sudanese police are searching the area for those responsible. "The identity of the assailants has not been determined," a UN statement said.

"The attack on our peacekeepers is deplorable and our hearts go out to the families and friends of the deceased," said UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political) Aichatou Mindaoudou Souleymane. "UNAMID is doing all it can to render treatment to the injured, and, with the Sudanese police, to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

More than 23,000 troops, military observers and police officers and nearly 4,500 civilians serve with UNAMID, which took over peacekeeping duties from an earlier African Union mission at the start of 2008. A total of 30 UNAMID blue helmets have been killed in the line of duty while serving in Darfur, and Friday's attack comes after two peacekeepers were injured during a similar attack in West Darfur on July 22.

The UNAMID force is tasked with protecting civilians, promoting an inclusive peace process and help ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance across Darfur, an arid region on Sudan's western flank.

Fighting and large-scale displacement has convulsed the region since 2003, when rebels took up arms against the Government, whose military forces responded with the support of allied militiamen.

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