UNAMID peacekeepers recover ambushed World Food Programme personnel, vehicle

28 Jun 2015

UNAMID peacekeepers recover ambushed World Food Programme personnel, vehicle

On 5 June 2015, UNAMID peacekeepers from South Africa rescued the driver of a World Food Programme (WFP) truck which was ambushed by unknown armed men aboard a gun-mounted vehicle 55 kilometers south-west of the Mission's Team Site in Kutum

,North Darfur, a day earlier. The truck was part of a UNAMID and WFP convoy which was travelling in two groups. One of the groups pursued the assailants immediately but was unable to apprehend them, at the time. However, the dedicated and professional intervention of the Mission's leadership and troops on the ground ensured that both the driver and the vehicle were recovered the following day, though some of the truck's contents were looted. UNAMID and the Government of Sudan continue to investigate the incident.

The World Food Programme expressed its gratitude to UNAMID's Acting Joint Special Representative, Abiodun Bashua, and commended the Mission's South African troops who executed the successful search-and-rescue operation on the ground.

Facilitating the United Nations Country Team in the provision of humanitarian assistance to people in need is a core aspect of UNAMID's mandated priorities in Darfur.