Statement attributable to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Marta Ruedas, on the fatal attack on UN peacekeepers in Darfur

The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Ms. Marta Ruedas, condemns the attack by unknown assailants on a convoy of the African Union-United Nations Mission (UNAMID) near Kutum, North Darfur last week, in which one South African peacekeeper was killed and another wounded.

Ms. Ruedas expressed her deepest condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who was killed while on active duty and also to the Government of South Africa. She also wished the wounded soldier a speedy recovery.

UNAMID has been working in Darfur since 2007 and is mandated to protect civilians, and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and other aid actors and the safety and security of humanitarian personnel. The humanitarian community depends on UNAMID to provide convoy escorts for the provision of timely emergency relief to people in need and to protect civilians affected by conflict.