Peacekeeper funds stolen in Darfur

It is the latest incident in a recent upsurge of violence in Sudan’s vast western region, where black African rebels first rose up against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government in 2003.
UNAMID received reports that a bank vehicle had been robbed by armed men in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, said Christopher Cycmanick, a spokesman for the mission.
There were no injuries but the robbers are believed to have obtained            “an undisclosed amount of cash,” he said.
Sources with knowledge of the crime said the robbers made off with more than US$300 000, which was destined for UNAMID.
The bank involved, Bank of Khartoum, declined to comment and there was no indication of who might have been responsible.
Banditry, inter-ethnic fighting and clashes between rebel groups and government forces continue in Darfur although violence is much lower than at its peak in 2003 and 2004 when the rebellion began.
The UNAMID mission has thousands of troops and police, with a budget of about US$1,4 billion for 2012-13.
Meanwhile, a Sudanese driver for the World Food Programme was shot dead in war-torn South Kordofan state, the UN agency said yesterday as officials called for a ceasefire to allow wider aid access.
The UN has described a worsening humanitarian crisis in South Kordofan and nearby Blue Nile but has       been severely restricted in its movement.
“Our driver was killed yesterday (Saturday) in an armed attack in an area some 80 kilometres north of Kadugli,” WFP spokeswoman Amor Almagro said. — AFP.