Three WFP trucks ambushed, three injured

Three WFP trucks travelling from Gitega (south-central Burundi) were ambushed on Monday morning at Muriza in Butaganzwa commune, Ruyigi province, a WFP spokeswoman told IRIN on Tuesday. “A number of heavily armed rebels ambushed the convoy,” the spokeswoman, Lindsey Davies, explained. “The driver of the first truck was shot in the head and is in a critical condition at Bujumbura hospital. One of the turnboys in the same truck received a bullet in the leg.” The second truck driver was not wounded but his turnboy was shot in the leg, Davies said. The third truck escaped unharmed. “All three injured people are at a Bujumbura hospital receiving treatment,” she said. The convoy was carrying approximately 60 tons of food, but none was looted. “WFP has no plans to suspend operations in that area, however, we will have to reinforce security,” Davies added. The agency is feeding approximately 20,000 people in the southeastern region.