U.N. helicopter shot at as violence surges

EL FASHER, Sudan, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A peacekeeping helicopter operated by the United Nations was fired at Monday by militants in Sudan as the renewed conflict in northern Darfur intensifies.

The U.N.-African Union mission in Darfur, known as UNAMID, said the Mi-8 helicopter was transporting aid when it came under attack.

The helicopter was able to return safely to the UNAMID base in El Fasher without any casualties, but the escalating conflict between Sudanese government forces and rebels in Darfur has prompted calls from the U.N.-AU mission for an immediate end to the violence, the United Nations reported.

The shooting incident follows a surge in violence in the south Darfur near Muhajeria. Rodolphe Adada, UNAMID joint special representative, traveled to Muhajeria and estimated that the fresh violence has caused a crisis in the region and that thousands of people are in desperate need of aid.

"We are very much concerned about your safety, and UNAMID will continue its mandate to protect you and that is why we set up our house amongst you," Adada said in a statement.