El Fasher, 10 June 2012 – The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) leadership condemns in the strongest terms the criminal act by a group of armed men who left a pregnant woman on the road after carjacking an ambulance in Drouk valley, 30 kilometres northeast from Dar Asalam, North Darfur.

According to eye witnesses, on 8 June approximately 30 assailants affiliated with an armed movement from the area stopped the ambulance belonging to Dar Asalam hospital carrying a pregnant woman to El Fasher hospital. The group abducted the ambulance driver and took the car, leaving the woman on the roadside. She was later rescued by a passing local vehicle and transported to El Fasher.

The Deputy Joint Special Representative (Political), Ms. Aichatou Mindaoudou, expressed her outrage at this incident and urged the local authorities to promptly conduct a thorough investigation of this crime, extending the full support of the Mission to that end. “Such shocking acts of criminality should not be tolerated. Impunity must not have a place in Darfur and the rights of women are to be fully protected.”

UNAMID Force Commander Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba called the act inhuman. “This assault is an act of cowardice that is unacceptable, morally reprehensible and beyond the realm of criminality,” he said. “I urge the Government of Sudan to bring the perpetrators to justice.”