An attack on a United Nations aid convoy near Al Koma in Sudan's North Darfur region has resulted in the deaths of five aid workers and left several others injured, further exacerbating the country's dire humanitarian situation.
The 15-truck convoy, operated by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, was transporting essential food and nutrition supplies to El Fasher, a city under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May 2024. The convoy had travelled over 1,800 kilometres from Port Sudan and was awaiting clearance to proceed when it came under attack.
The perpetrators remain unidentified, with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF trading blame. The RSF accused the military of conducting a preplanned airstrike, while the government claimed that RSF drones were responsible.
El Fasher, home to approximately 2 million people, including 800,000 internally displaced persons, is experiencing extreme food scarcity. RSF checkpoints and ongoing hostilities have severely hampered aid deliveries.
The UN has condemned the attack, calling for an urgent investigation and emphasising that the assault constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. The organisation highlighted that the convoy's route had been shared in advance with both warring parties.
Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, with the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leading to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Over 11.6 million people have been internally displaced, and more than 4 million have fled the country since the beginning of the conflict.
