UN-African Union Sewage Truck in North Darfur

Armed Men Carjack UN-African Union Sewage Truck in North Darfur

The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission to Darfur (UNAMID) reported that one of its sewage trucks was carjacked today by unknown gunmen in the north of the war-wracked region of western Sudan.

Three men approached the truck at a sewage dumping site in North Darfur state, pointed weapons at the driver and then ordered him to move the vehicle towards the nearby Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), UNAMID said.

The mission immediately reported the carjacking to Sudanese Government police and efforts to recover the truck are now underway.

Today’s carjacking took place amid mounting UN concern about fresh violence in North Darfur, including attacks against aid workers and others trying to help the region, which has been beset by fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen since 2003.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes voiced concern yesterday and called on all sides to cease fighting immediately and engage in meaningful talks towards a durable settlement for Darfur.

The renewed violence has also made it harder for aid workers to reach IDPs and other civilians in many areas, jeopardizing relief efforts to hundreds of thousands of people.

ENDS

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