Five killed in attack on Sudan aid convoy

A convoy of 15 aid trucks suffered an attack on Monday night as it attempted to reach the city of El Fasher in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur region. Five aid workers were killed and several other people were injured, according to a statement from the United Nations World Food Program. Several trucks were also burned in the attack, damaging critical humanitarian supplies, the aid group said Tuesday. The operation was a joint effort with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The convoy had traveled more than 1,000 miles from Port Sudan to bring aid to children and families in the besieged city. Parties on the ground had been notified of the convoy’s purpose and intended route to El Fasher.

Who carried out the attack? The World Food Program called for an investigation and for the perpetrators to be held accountable. It did not specify if the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group or its rival, Sudan Armed Forces, were responsible. However, the Rapid Support Forces have besieged El Fasher for more than a year. The World Food Program’s facilities in El Fasher, including an office and clinic, were bombarded last week, according to the aid group.

When did the conflict in Sudan start? The internal war began in April 2023, when the Rapid Support Forces and previously government-affiliated troops clashed after jointly orchestrating a 2019 coup. The fighting has internally displaced more than 8.9 million people and caused about 3 million to flee to other countries, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Both sides have committed war crimes against civilians, according to a UN fact-finding mission. Both sides deny the UN’s allegations.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Oduah’s story on the strange lack of attention for Susan’s bloody crisis.