Two aid workers killed in S. Sudan

Unknown gunmen shot dead two aid workers in South Sudan, affecting humanitarian operations in the world's youngest nation, the relief agency said on Wednesday.

The South Sudanese were part of the Danish Demining Group (DDG)'s mine and bomb clearing division operating in the southern Yei region. They were killed in the southern Yei region as they were travelling to their work location.

It said the workers were part of a team of seven who were travelling from their base in Yei to their work location when the vehicle they were driving was ambushed. The remaining five employees escaped unharmed.

"The DDG Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was travelling in the early morning from their base in Yei to their work location when the vehicle was ambushed and two of the team members were shot during the ensuing events," the organization said in a statement released in Juba.

DDG Head Tammy Hall said the two staff members have been identified and their families notified.

"It is with great sadness that we received the news this morning about the tragic deaths of two staff members in South Sudan. Our thoughts are with the family members and colleagues in South Sudan," Hall said.

"I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of our fallen colleagues, and to the entire South Sudan team," she added.

She said security is of primary importance in the organisation's operations, noting that they constantly evaluate the safety of all areas of operation.

"As always, this tragic incident will be analysed and shared with our local networks as part of our ongoing security measures to ensure the safety of our staff as we continue our work," Hall stressed.

DDG began working in Southern Sudan in 2006 in the area of Humanitarian Mine Action and in 2009, in the field of Armed Violence Reduction. Endit