KHARTOUM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Two peacekeepers of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), who had been missing following an attack by unknown gunmen in Sudan's Darfur region Friday, returned to their base, the UNAMID announced in a statement on Sunday.

A UNAMID team at Kass, 85 km northwest of Nyala, capital of the South Darfur State, reported that the two peacekeepers had safely returned to the base with the assistance of local people, according to the statement.

The soldiers managed to contact the team in Kass on Sunday and told the team their location, and a search and rescue patrol was immediately dispatched to collect them.

The two peacekeepers were found suffering from dehydration but were in stable conditions after receiving appropriate medical treatment.

On Friday, a UNAMID assessment patrol was sent to Deribat, in the Jebel Marra region of South Darfur, to assess the security and humanitarian situation following unconfirmed reports of armed clashes in the area, to pave the way for the provision of humanitarian emergency relief.

The patrol was ambushed and its peacekeepers detained before being released the next day.

Two soldiers of the UNAMID Protection Force were able to escape during the ambush, trekking over long distances at night in the desert, before returning to their team site.

They encountered locals who helped them find their way to a place from where they could contact their comrades and command.

In its statement, the UNAMID expressed its thanks and gratitude to the local people for the assistance to its peacekeepers.

The UNAMID also reiterates its commitment to find a lasting solution to the Darfur conflict.