11 September 2008 -- The joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission to Darfur (UNAMID) had one of its sewage trucks carjacked today by unknown gunmen in North Darfur state.

Three men approached the truck at a sewage dumping site, pointed weapons at the driver and then ordered him to move the vehicle towards the nearby Zam Zam camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The mission immediately reported the carjacking to Sudanese Government police and efforts to recover the truck are now underway.

Today’s carjacking took place amid mounting UN concern about fresh violence in North Darfur, including attacks against aid workers and others trying to help the region, which has been beset by fighting between rebels, Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen since 2003.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes voiced concern yesterday and called on all sides to cease fighting immediately and engage in meaningful talks towards a durable settlement for Darfur.

The renewed violence has also made it harder for aid workers to reach IDPs and other civilians in many areas, jeopardizing relief efforts to hundreds of thousands of people.