KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Gunmen attacked a group of Eritrean asylum seekers in eastern Sudan yesterday and kidnapped 14 people, mostly women and children, the United Nations said based on information from Sudanese authorities.

A lorry of the Sudanese Commission of Refugees transporting 49 people to the Shegarab refugee camp in the country’s east yesterday afternoon was fired on by the unknown gunmen from a pickup truck.

The lorry’s driver was assaulted and the 14 kidnapped, UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Nicolas Brass told AFP.

“We have been informed by the authorities that there was an abduction of 14 Eritrean asylum seekers on their way to Shegarab camp from Kassala,” 410 kilometres (255 miles) east of Khartoum, he said.

Six of those seized were unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 — four boys and two were girls.

Two men and six women were also among those kidnapped, Brass said.

Another six people were slightly injured as they tried to escape and were taken to hospital when the lorry eventually reached Shegarab, Brass said.

“We are closely following up with the relevant authorities who are investigating the incident,” he said.

An anonymous security source confirmed the kidnapping, adding that the gunmen had “fled in an unknown direction” after the incident.

Nearly 110,000 Eritreans currently live in Sudan.

Thousands of them cross into Sudan every month, trying to make the perilous onward journey to Europe across the Mediterranean.

It was not clear what the ultimate destination of those kidnapped was.