The humanitarian group Save the Children UK has suspended its operations in Sudan’s South Darfur State, following the killing of two of its workers on Sunday. 

Laura Conrad is a spokesperson for the group.  From London, she told English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua about the attack on one of its convoys. 

She says, “Following an attack on Sunday afternoon, in an area about an hour and a half north of the state capital of South Darfur, Nyala, a convoy of three Save the Children vehicles came under attack.  And sadly, two of our Sudanese staff were shot.” 

The Sudanese government has blamed the rebel Sudanese Liberation army for the attack.  However, Ms. Conrad says she cannot say who the attackers were, adding the African Union is conducting an investigation. 

She says the attack occurred as the convoy was traveling between camps for internally displaced people, IDPs, between Mershing and Duma.  There has been banditry along the road in the past, but no incidents as serious as this. 

Save the Children provides aid for about 130,000 people in South Darfur, most of them women and children.  Ms. Conrad says the suspension of aid could have a big effect, describing the IDPs as being in “enormous need.”