El Fasher, 11 October 2011 – At approximately 20:15 on 10 October, an African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) patrol came under attack by armed assailants in Zam Zam internally displaced persons camp some 10 kilometres south of El Fasher in North Darfur.

Three peacekeepers -two soldiers and one police advisor- were killed and six peacekeepers injured, three of them seriously. One assailant was also killed.

Ibrahim Gambari, Joint Special Representative and head of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur, strongly condemned the attack.

"I condemn in the strongest terms this attack on our peacekeepers who have worked selflessly to bring security to the internally displaced persons of Zam Zam camp where so many Darfuris have sought refuge," said JSR Gambari.

"The UNAMID patrol was a regular nightly patrol of unarmed police advisors and armed military escorts. Their mission was to protect civilians. For that they paid the ultimate sacrifice."

The JSR called upon the Sudanese authorities to mount a full investigation immediately and to find and bring to justice the perpetrators as soon as possible.

"An attack on international peacekeepers is a war crime and we will ensure that justice will be served. This deplorable incident will not deter UNAMID's strong commitment to its mission to protect the people of Darfur."

"I wish to extend to the families, friends, colleagues and fellow peacekeepers my deepest condolences and my profound gratitude for the service of our fallen peacekeepers. I wish those injured a speedy recovery."

Since the initial deployment of UNAMID in 2007, 33 peacekeepers have been killed while deployed with UNAMID as a result of hostile action.

Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; saiki@un.org; tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529; mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020

Susan Manuel, Deputy director, manuels@un.org, mobile: +249 (0)92 241 0274