Update: Unamid confirms three injured in militia attack in East Darfur
A convoy of the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan was attacked in East Darfur with the police and villagers witnessing the exchange of fire. The convoy was reportedly moving from state capital Ed Daein to Muhajeriya.Eyewitnesses told Radio Dabanga that a group of militiamen attacked a Unamid convoy in the Umwargat area, 36km north-east of Ed Daein, on Tuesday morning.Although people from both sides were injured, witnesses affirm that three wounded Unamid peacekeepers were evacuated by helicopter to the mission’s hospital in Ed Daein.Sources also claim that the two of the ten vehicles belonging to the Unamid convoy were seized during the attack.Speaking to Radio Dabanga by phone from North Darfur capital El Fasher on Tuesday evening, Unamid media relations officer Rania Abdulrahman confirmed that “three peacekeepers have been injured in clashes with an unknown armed group in the village of Mumudiri, 36km north-east of Ed Daein”. She pointed out that the when the convoy came under attack, reinforcements were immediately sent from the Ed Daein base. This allowed the peacekeepers to repel the attackers. She also confirmed that the three injured peacekeepers have been airlifted to the Unamid hospital in Ed Daein for treatment.For his part, police commander Abubakir Al Sheikh of East Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that locals from Umwargat informed him about “an attack on a convoy connected to Unamid.”Al Sheikh then deployed forces to Umwargat, where they found a fuel tanker overturned, five Land Cruisers, two of which were stuck in the mud, and five troop carriers. He said his forces sent all of the vehicles to Ed Daein carrying the peacekeepers.Upon returning to Ed Daein, the commander of the Unamid convoy informed the police director he lost one Land Cruiser, prompting police forces to return to the Umwargat area and search for it.Al Sheikh told Radio Dabanga he has only heard from the Umwargat people about the three injured peacekeepers who were evacuated to hospital.Lastly, he noted that Unamid did not report their movement from Ed Daein to Muhajeriya, as it normally should. It also did not initially report the incident or the missing vehicles to the police.File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid
A convoy of the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan was attacked in East Darfur with the police and villagers witnessing the exchange of fire. The convoy was reportedly moving from state capital Ed Daein to Muhajeriya.
Eyewitnesses told Radio Dabanga that a group of militiamen attacked a Unamid convoy in the Umwargat area, 36km north-east of Ed Daein, on Tuesday morning.
Although people from both sides were injured, witnesses affirm that three wounded Unamid peacekeepers were evacuated by helicopter to the mission’s hospital in Ed Daein.
Sources also claim that the two of the ten vehicles belonging to the Unamid convoy were seized during the attack.
Speaking to Radio Dabanga by phone from North Darfur capital El Fasher on Tuesday evening, Unamid media relations officer Rania Abdulrahman confirmed that “three peacekeepers have been injured in clashes with an unknown armed group in the village of Mumudiri, 36km north-east of Ed Daein”.
She pointed out that the when the convoy came under attack, reinforcements were immediately sent from the Ed Daein base. This allowed the peacekeepers to repel the attackers. She also confirmed that the three injured peacekeepers have been airlifted to the Unamid hospital in Ed Daein for treatment.
For his part, police commander Abubakir Al Sheikh of East Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that locals from Umwargat informed him about “an attack on a convoy connected to Unamid.”
Al Sheikh then deployed forces to Umwargat, where they found a fuel tanker overturned, five Land Cruisers, two of which were stuck in the mud, and five troop carriers. He said his forces sent all of the vehicles to Ed Daein carrying the peacekeepers.
Upon returning to Ed Daein, the commander of the Unamid convoy informed the police director he lost one Land Cruiser, prompting police forces to return to the Umwargat area and search for it.
Al Sheikh told Radio Dabanga he has only heard from the Umwargat people about the three injured peacekeepers who were evacuated to hospital.
Lastly, he noted that Unamid did not report their movement from Ed Daein to Muhajeriya, as it normally should. It also did not initially report the incident or the missing vehicles to the police.
File photo by Albert González Farran/Unamid
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