OXFAM Staff Member Killed in Darfur

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001859

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV KCRM SU
SUBJECT: OXFAM Staff Member Killed in Darfur



1. (U) On August 1, OXFAM posted the following announcement on its
web site regarding the recent disappearance of a Sudanese employee
in Darfur following a car-jacking incident:

(Begin text)

Oxfam staff member killed in Darfur

It is with deep sorrow that Oxfam announces that one of our staff
members, Nouraldeen Abdalla Nourein, is believed to have been killed
last Friday, 28 July, in West Darfur.

Armed men abducted Nouraldeen during a carjacking of an Oxfam
vehicle in early May. Despite extensive efforts by Oxfam, the
United Nations, the African Union, the local community, local
authorities, and Nouraldeen's family to trace him, we were unable to
secure his release. We believe that he was taken to Chad and held
there until recently.

We have been told that Nouraldeen was making his way back to Saraf
Omra in North Darfur last week when he was caught up in fighting in
Helelat village near Kulbus. We believe that he died there.

Nouraldeen worked with Oxfam as a driver, providing water and
sanitation to communities in the rural areas near Saraf Omra. He
was collecting sand to construct a well when the carjacking took
place.

Oxfam temporarily closed its office in Saraf Omra at the end of June
because Nouraldeen was still missing. While that office remains
closed, we continue to operate in a number of other locations in
North Darfur and in South and West Darfur.

Caroline Nursey
Oxfam Country Program Manager
1 August 2006

(End text)


2. (SBU) Comment: UNDSS officials (strictly protect),however,
advised USAID Darfur Field Office staff that OXFAM officials had met
with them previously regarding Nouraldeen's disappearance and their
concerns that he may have been involved with a car-hacking ring.
Their fears include the possibility that he was killed following
providing information to the police about the operation. End
comment.

HUME