KHARTOUM, 6 February 2005 — A Sudanese soldier shot an aid worker in the West Kordofan region, underlining the danger facing those trying to help 1.8 million people displaced by conflict in neighboring Darfur, an aid agency said yesterday.
CARE International said in a statement its clearly marked vehicle was fired on without warning on Thursday morning during a visit to a water and sanitation project in West Kordofan, which borders the troubled Darfur area. “The bullet, fired by a Sudanese soldier, struck and wounded a CARE staff member who received medical treatment and is in good condition,” the statement said.
“Sudanese military authorities subsequently apologized to CARE for the incident.”
At least 5 aid workers have been killed in Darfur since humanitarian aid began to flow in earnest in April 2004, when a shaky cease-fire was signed between the rebels and the government.
