IDP Children Injure Peacekeeper

A UNAMID peacekeeper in West Darfur sustained a critical head injury from rocks thrown at him by children from the Hamadiya camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Camp leaders, the UN Department of Safety and Security, UNAMID, and the National Intelligence Security Services met to discuss the incident. An apology was given by camp leaders, as well as a statement that such an event would not happen again.

This incident brought me back to a previous blog discussing the “shabab” or “Darfur’s Generation X” – a growing population of angry, frustrated, and perhaps fearful youth residing in Darfur’s various refugee camps.

Yes, these individuals are acting out. However, the appropriate response is not to condone or condemn their actions. The appropriate response is to ask ourselves why they are committing such actions.