The African Union - United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) announces with regret the death of one of its peacekeepers as a result of injuries sustained when fired upon in the course of a hijacking carried out by unknown armed men in the town of El Fasher in the early evening of 27 December 2008. Particulars are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin.

The peacekeeper died today in hospital in Khartoum. While the stolen vehicle has been recovered by Sudanese police, the attackers are yet to be located.

UNAMID, while appreciative of the efforts of the Sudanese police in combating such crimes, deplores this act of criminal violence which poses a threat to both the safety and security of UNAMID personnel and to the well-being of the Sudanese people whose suffering we are here to alleviate.