In brief
An attack on a UN aid convoy in North Darfur has resulted in the deaths of five personnel, raising alarm about the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid amid the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan.
The delivery was supposed to be the first to arrive in the embattled city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, in more than a year. Five members of a United Nations convoy carrying humanitarian supplies to this region were killed during an attack that also left several aid personnel injured and resulted in the destruction of many trucks, as reported by the UN this week. The convoy was comprised of 15 trucks from the United Nations’ World Food Program and UNICEF and had stopped late Monday for the night in a market town in North Darfur after making a 1,100-mile journey from Port Sudan. The UN stated that this convoy was intended to be their first successful entry into El Fasher after a lengthy hiatus. The delivery was aimed at assisting around 100,000 people, as the World Food Program indicated that approximately 1,100 tons of aid were intended for distribution. El Fasher has been a focal point in the ongoing civil war, with the Sudanese Army currently controlling the city, which is now under threat from an offensive launched by the rebel Rapid Support Forces. This group has significantly gained ground in western and southern Sudan over recent weeks. Prior to the attack, the United Nations had communicated the convoy’s route to relevant forces and was negotiating for permission to continue its journey. Following the assault, the UN expressed its dismay over the significant loss of resources, indicating that “many of our trucks were burned,” and lamenting the impact on civilians who rely on aid. This attack further underscores the dangerous conditions aid agencies are confronting as they strive to reach millions who are on the brink of famine due to a conflict that, as per UN reports, has displaced over 13 million individuals. Just prior to this incident, the UN protested against shelling by the Rapid Support Forces that targeted a WFP warehouse in El Fasher. Additionally, an airstrike by Sudanese armed forces on the market town where the convoy was ambushed has reportedly caused numerous casualties, highlighting the ongoing violence in the area. In response to the attack, UNICEF confirmed that two of its trucks were unharmed, carrying critical nutritional and health supplies for malnourished children. They remain resolved to continue their mission, with plans to redirect the trucks to deliver aid to local communities. “This has just cemented our resolve to stay and deliver. We are not leaving,” stated Eva Hinds, a UNICEF spokeswoman in Port Sudan.
