A/HRC/6/19 page 80 In mid-September 2007, humanitarian personnel continued to be victims of targeted attacks. Three humanitarian workers were abducted by SLA-MM elements in Sarafaya (North Darfur) on 31 August and were released five days later. In addition, two humanitarian vehicles were hijacked in South Darfur, one of which in Kalma camp while another attempt in the same camp was thwarted. This week, armed men assaulted six humanitarian premises. Targeted attacks on humanitarian aid workers and their assets continued to negatively affect the humanitarian environment in Darfur. Two humanitarian vehicles were hijacked in the third week of September 2007 and one carjacking attempt was foiled in Mosai camp (South Darfur). From January to the end of September 2007, 92 humanitarian vehicles had been hijacked or stolen. On 20 September 2007, armed men shot at a two-vehicle NGO convoy near Bulbul Timbisco (South Darfur), hitting two staff members in the head and one in the arm. Fortunately, no one was killed. The NGO decided to relocate its staff members from Edd El Fursan to Nyala. A brutal assault by armed men on an NGO compound in Tawilla forced the NGO to relocate its staff for security reasons and suspend its activities in one of the few areas in North Darfur with a permanent humanitarian presence apart from El Fasher. Following an armed assault on an NGO convoy near Marla (South Darfur), the NGO suspended all its operations in the Manawashi-Duma-Marla area. This week, three NGO staff were wounded by gunshots, a total of four humanitarian vehicles were hijacked or stolen, two hijacking attempts failed, two convoys were ambushed, and one NGO compound broken into. In the first week of October 2007, violent attacks against humanitarian workers and their assets continued at an alarmingly high rate. Four humanitarian vehicles were hijacked and one humanitarian convoy stopped and looted. One NGO driver was temporarily abducted during one of the hijacking incidents. In addition, three NGO staff members were abducted from their warehouse and held hostage for one day by armed nomads. In view of a threat of an imminent militia attack, one NGO relocated its staff from Seleah (South Darfur) to Nyala as a precautionary measure. On 16 October 2007, three contract truck drivers were shot to death while working for the WFP in Darfur. Two of the men died in South Darfur state on the road between the town of Ed Daien and the city of El Obeid. The men were returning to El Obeid after delivering supplies. In an earlier incident involving WFP, which took place on 12 October in South Darfur on the road between the state capital Nyala and the city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur. some 25 bags of grain were looted from the truck. In the period 15-21 October 2007, the security situation in South Darfur, particularly in Nyala town and some of the surrounding IDP camps, deteriorated significantly. Compared to August 2007, the incidents targeted at the UN and INGO staff increased by 100% in September 2007. The last two months were dominated by fifteen carjacking-related incidents whereby nine vehicles were stolen at gun-point and eight robbery incidents occurred during field missions. None of the vehicles have been recovered. Assessment of Implementation of Recommendation 2.1.2 Progress was reported in the implementation of the Joint Communiqué, an important step in itself, but humanitarian access remained difficult and often denied on the ground. Expulsions of high ranking aid workers were reportedly in violation of the letter and spirit of the Joint Communiqué.