ARMED MEN AMBUSH GROUP OF UN-AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS IN WEST DARFUR

ARMED MEN AMBUSH GROUP OF UN-AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPERS IN WEST DARFUR
New York, Nov 10 2008 7:10PM
Unknown armed men have ambushed a peacekeeping patrol with the hybrid United Nations-African Union mission in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan, injuring one of the blue helmets and stealing a vehicle.

The mission, known as <"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/index.html">UNAMID, reported that a group of Nigerian peacekeepers were on patrol about 5:45 p.m. yesterday near the Geneina Super Camp in West Darfur state when they were ambushed by a group of men armed with rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47 assault rifles.

The patrol returned fire during the ambush and one peacekeeper was injured in the arm during the firefight, according to a press release issued by UNAMID today. The wounded soldier was later evacuated to El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, for medical treatment.

UNAMID said in a statement that it strongly condemned "this unprovoked and dastardly attack," stressing that it would not deter the operation – in place since the start of the year – from pursuing its mandate. The mission is now investigating the ambush as well.

More than 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed in Darfur, an impoverished and relatively arid region on Sudan's western flank, since rebels began fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen in 2003. Another 2.7 million civilians have had to flee their homes.

UNAMID began operations in January to replace an under-resourced African Union mission known as AMIS, and in recent months the mission has expressed deep concern about the rising number of attacks against its personnel and also aid workers operating in the region.
Nov 10 2008 7:10PM
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