August 5, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – Unidentified armed men killed a Sudanese employee of the World Food programme in the war torn state of South Kordofan, the UN agency announced on Sunday.

Jamal Al Fadil Farag-Allah, who is a driver for the WFP, was killed in an armed attack on 4 August near Hilat Yatu, some 80 kilometres north of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state.

He was driving fellow staff member Saad Yousif when their vehicle was ambushed by two unknown assailants. Saad survived and is currently receiving medical attention.

"It is unacceptable for humanitarian workers to face attacks while they are working on the frontlines of hunger in countries like Sudan", said WFP Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin.

Since June 2011 Sudanese army are fighting the rebel Sudan people’s Liberation Movement – North in South Kordofan. Also Darfur rebel groups who forged an alliance with the SPLM-N carry out regular attacks on the government positions in the region.

The Sudanese government and SPLM-N reached on 3 August a humanitarian deal facilitated by the UN, Arab League and the African Union aiming to distribute food in the rebel held areas.

The agreement provides a humanitarian ceasefire while the parties will resume political talks in September.

SPLM-N spokesperson , Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, distanced his group from the attack saying the area were the attack took place is controlled by the government forces.

He went to say they expect more similar attacks by the Sudanese government during the upcoming period in order to terrorize aid groups. He emphasised that the increase of violence against aid workers would allow Khartoum to evade its commitments related to the humanitarian access to the rebel controlled areas.

The Sudanese government after refusing during one year to allow humanitarian access to affected civilians in the areas controlled by the SPLM-N, agreed on 3 August that aid groups can deliver food and work there as long as they are monitored by the African and Arab observers.

(ST)