afrol News, 24 March - A Sudanese aid worker for a Canadian charity has been shot dead in his home by unidentified gunmen demanding his satellite phone, the man's employer said on today.

The Fellowship of African Relief Sudan country director Mark Simmons said the worker was ambushed two days ago, saying he was beaten after he failed to give his abductors a phone.

"They came to his house at 9 pm on Monday and when they didn't find a phone there they shot him," he said.

Tensions have risen in Darfur since a warrant of arrest was issued for Sudan's leader Omar Al Bashir earlier this month for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity for the six year conflict in Darfur by the International Criminal Court.

A day after the indictment, the president expelled 13 foreign aid agencies out of the region accusing them of giving the court false information and also for over exaggerating the Darfur crisis.

Earlier this month, a group of armed men abducted five employees working for medical charity organisation, the Belgian branch of Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF) in Darfur region.

The kidnapping raised questions on the issue of security of aid workers currently operating in Sudan’s war torn Darfur region.

Some analysts had said the ICC warrant could spark more violence in Darfur, where peacekeepers and civilians have been caught in the middle of the conflict. But the international court went ahead to issue the warrant.

The UN has said that the effects of the expulsions were already being felt, with feeding for malnourished children not taking place and un-serviced water pumps likely to break down.

The United Nations said about 300,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003 when Darfuris took up arms against the government, accusing of neglect by the Arab-dominated Khartoum government. More than 2.7 million have been displaced.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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