WFP-contracted driver killed after delivering food assistance in south Sudan
The United Nations World Food Programme said today that the Ugandan driver of a WFP-contracted truck was killed in an ambush in southern Sudan, bringing to five the number of WFP-contracted drivers or their assistants killed in attacks in South Sudan this year.
Unidentified assailants shot and killed Muzamil Ramadan Sida, 28, on the Juba-Yei road in the evening of 27 June after he delivered food to a WFP warehouse in Juba. His assistant escaped after steering the truck to a stop 300 metres from the attack site. The gunmen followed the truck and took the driver's personal belongings.
"We are all saddened by this senseless killing and send our deep condolences to Mr. Sida’s family. Drivers of food relief trucks risk their lives to bring urgently needed food to vulnerable people. Such attacks are completely unacceptable," said Daniela Owen, WFP's coordinator for South Sudan.
Sida's body was returned to Koboko, Uganda, yesterday. His death followed the killing of a driver and his assistant in April and two drivers in March. Both of those incidents were in Unity State, South Sudan. In Sudan's western region of Darfur, two WFP-contracted drivers have been killed this year.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
