The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that
four armed men attacked its field office in Sudan's western region
of Darfur, wounding a guard after shooting him on the leg.
In a statement received in Nairobi, the UNHCR said the men, who
were wearing military uniforms, attacked the office in Habila in
the far west of Sudan's Darfur region late Monday.
"We are concerned about the security situation in Habila, in far
western Darfur, after an attack last night by four armed men in
military uniform on our field office, leaving one guard wounded
after being shot in the leg," the statement said.
"He is in a stable condition and has been discharged after being
treated at an NGO clinic in Habila. Details are still sketchy, "
the UNHCR said.
The statement said the attackers forced their way in, shot the
guard, stole communications equipment, asked one of the staff for
money and then left.
Habila is about 95 kilometers south of the West Darfur capital
of al-Geneina. UNHCR has seven staff in Habila, and around 75 in
West Darfur.
According to UNHCR, police were called in to provide protection
for the compound but no other staff members were hurt in the
incident.
In mid-May, UNHCR started moving Chadian refugees, who had taken
refuge in the area after fleeing military and bandit activity along
the border between Chad and Sudan, to a new refugee camp 60
kilometers away at Um Shalaya.
"Some 3,000 of the estimated 5,000 people at the Habila site
have now been moved. The remaining refugees have preferred to
remain in the area, staying with relatives or fellow tribe
members," said the UNHCR.
"Over recent weeks, a further 50 refugees have arrived from the
insecure border area in Chad and have told us they wish to be moved
to the new camp, which has good drinking water and a health
clinic," the statement said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2006)
