El Fasher, 29 August 2009: Two international civilian staff members – one man and one woman – of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were abducted at gunpoint by four or five armed men from their residence in Zalingei, West Darfur, about 400 kilometres from El Fasher, early today Saturday 29 August.

The incident is reported to have occurred at about 04.30 hours and the two staff members were taken to an unknown destination.

UNAMID has informed the relevant Sudanese authorities, which have assured the Mission that they are taking all the necessary steps to address the situation.

The responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of UN staff members in Sudan rests with the Sudanese Government.

Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the two staff members, urging their abductors to return them unharmed.

UNAMID continues to closely monitor this incident and reiterates that it is in Darfur to assist in the restoration of peace and stability to the region and that targetting UN staff members may have negative consequences for the peace process.

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Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
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Sharon McPherson, Media Relations, McPherson1@un.org –mobile: +249 (0) 92 224 10375 - +249 (0) 92 244 7941