10 December 2008 – Facing a surge in hijackings of United Nations and non-governmental organization (NGO) vehicles in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region, the joint UN-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has handed over equipment for two new Sudanese police posts in the southern area.

The posts, to be located at the eastern and southern entrances to the UNAMID compound in Nyala, capital of South Darfur province, will serve as permanent checkpoints, mainly in supporting the night patrolling carried out by the Sudanese emergency police and national security forces.

The basic equipment handed over includes beds, tables, chairs, water containers and mattresses.

Last week, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes told the Security Council that 261 vehicles had been hijacked and 172 compounds broken into so far this year.

Rebel movements, or those linked to them, appear primarily responsible for the majority of “these terrifying incidents” in rural areas, but many also occur in main towns in Government control, he said.