UNHCR shocked and saddened by killing of staff member in southern Chad

Briefing Notes, 7 December 2007

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 7 December 2007, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

We are shocked and saddened by the killing of a UNHCR staff member in a shooting incident yesterday near Koumra in the south of Chad. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still not clear and we are working with the Chadian authorities to find out exactly what happened.

Mahmat Mahamadou, a driver based at the UNHCR Field Office in Danamadji in the south of Chad, where UNHCR cares for over 43,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, was returning alone in a vehicle after delivering a staff member to a regular meeting point for transfer of staff members, when he was attacked. The incident happened between Bedaya and Koumra, located 115 km from Sarh in an area that is normally safe.

This is the first fatality UNHCR has suffered in its operations in Chad. We send our deep condolences to the family of Mr Mahamadou.

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