Blue helmets bring deadly tribal violence under control in Darfur

Peacekeepers serving with the joint United Nations-African Union mission in Sudan’s war-wracked Darfur region have intervened in deadly tribal clashes, bringing the situation under control, it was announced today.

The fighting between the Zaghawa and Birgid tribes near Shangil Tobaya in North Darfur state killed two people, with six people from both sides sustaining injuries. Four people who were critically wounded were taken by helicopter to El Fasher by the mission, known as UNAMID, for treatment at a Government hospital.

UNAMID attributes the fighting to disputes over access to water, and as a temporary solution, the mission has made arrangements to supply water to the communities.

Since January 2008, UNAMID has been trying to quell the violence in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million others displaced as a result of conflict pitting rebels against the Government and its allied Janjaweed militiamen since 2003.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined other UN officials in welcoming the release of two female aid workers who were abducted in Darfur over three months ago.

The Irish and Ugandan staffers, Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki, were kidnapped by a group of armed men on 2 July while working for the international non-governmental organization (NGO) known as GOAL in North Darfur.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban commended “the thousands of humanitarian personnel working in Sudan for their critical efforts.”