UN Sudan condemns fatal attack on aid workers in West Darfur

The UN in Sudan condemns an attack in which two aid workers were killed on Tuesday near the Kereinik camp in West Darfur. The attackers targeted a returning mission of the State Ministry of Health and World Health Organization staff, assessing whether guinea-worm disease is still present in Sudan.

In a statement today, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Marta Ruedas, strongly condemns the fatal attack. The attack took place about 40km from El Geneina as the aid workers were returning from a routine mission. Gunmen ambushed the vehicle, killing the driver and a security official. Two health ministry staff and a WHO doctor in the vehicle were unharmed. The assailants stole the vehicle and fled the scene.

Ruedas said: “Insecurity continues to hamper the operations of courageous humanitarian workers in Darfur, as demonstrated by Tuesday’s violent act.”

“WHO deplores this attack on our health workers and government colleagues. Health services are a pivotal part of all humanitarian work, and we will continue to work tirelessly to provide this basic right to the most vulnerable people in Sudan,” said Dr. Naeema Hassan El Gaseer, WHO Representative in Sudan.

In the three Kereinik camps, about 80,000 displaced people are mainly depending on support from international humanitarian organisations.According to the UN, since January 2015 there have been 131 security incidents in Darfur that have affected humanitarian workers and peacekeepers, including abductions, armed attacks, carjackings and other crimes.