A driver who was hired by a local aid organization and partner of the faith-based humanitarian operation of ACT-Caritas in Darfur, to take staff home, was killed on Wednesday, July 19.
Lutheran World Relief, a member of the global aid alliance ACT (Action by Churches Together), is supporting the humanitarian response in Sudan’s Darfur region coordinated by ACT and Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of Catholic relief agencies.
Abdul Bagi Ahmed was driving the vehicle on behalf of local partner organization SUDO (Sudan Social Development Organization), when he was stopped on the road from Mershing to Nyala. A man carrying a weapon shot and killed Mr. Ahmed.
Mr. Ahmed and the vehicle had been hired by SUDO to take its staff back to Mershing. SUDO is a partner of the ACT-Caritas operation in Darfur, operating a health clinic and psychosocial centre on behalf of ACT and Caritas, as well as implementing water and sanitation services in the camps for displaced people in Mershing.
The vehicle was stopped by a man dressed in civilian clothes, while returning from Mershing in the early evening. A public health officer from the Ministry of Health who was visiting clinics in the area was the only passenger. After questioning Mr. Ahmed, the armed man jumped into the back of the vehicle and shot him three times in the back of the head. It is believed that Mr. Ahmed died instantly.
Two more men then joined the armed man and stole the bag from the public health officer, who escaped unharmed. The Ministry of Health officer then walked back to Manaweshi, where he reported the incident to the Government of Sudan military and World Vision, which also works in the area.
It appears that the vehicle left Manaweshi in the early evening, even though the driver had been advised by the Government of Sudan security, SUDO staff and staff of World Vision not to leave at that time. The Ministry of Health officer had no other option but to return with the vehicle.
The area around Mershing and Manaweshi is known to be one of the least secure in south Darfur. Following a series of attacks on vehicles traveling along the road to Nyala, and a large attack on displaced people's camps at the beginning of this year, humanitarian organizations have been advised to obtain an escort from the African Union (AU) for missions to the area.
However, the AU is chronically understaffed and under-funded. There have been plans since last year for a permanent AU base to be located between Mershing and Manaweshi, but with the failure to obtain funding, the base has not been built. However, it is believed that this base will be a priority for the new battalions.
In a donor conference this week, the U.S. pledged an additional $116 million in support for the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur. Together with the pledges of the European Union, the money would be enough to sustain the AU mission only until the end of September. Another $450 million would be needed to sustain the mission until the end of 2006, when it is hoped that the United Nations will take over the peacekeeping operation.
Mr. Ahmed was in his forties and leaves a wife and family.
His body was brought back to Nyala Thursday for burial by SUDO staff, with the assistance of staff of the Sudan Council of Churches (a member of ACT International and partner to the ACT-Caritas operation in Darfur) and staff of World Vision. The United Nations, the AU and government authorities have been informed of the incident and a full investigation will be launched.
“We were so saddened to learn of this tragic death,” said LWR president Kathryn Wolford. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Ahmed’s family and with all of those affected by Darfur’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.”
