CAIRO (AP) An attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in Sudan's Darfur region resulted in the deaths of five individuals, as reported by the United Nations on Tuesday. The incident has incited a blame game between the warring factions in the northeast African nation.
The assault on the 15-truck convoy occurred on the night of Monday near the town of Koma, which is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur province. The convoy was en route to el-Fasher city, as indicated in a joint statement from the World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF. Both organizations have urged for an investigation into this incident.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for over two years, stemming from rising tensions between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, resulting in violent street battles in the capital, Khartoum. These clashes have since escalated, resulting in widespread violence across the country.
The attack on Monday night not only caused fatalities but also led to injuries among convoy members, alongside significant damage to aid supplies, as noted in the statement from the WFP and UNICEF. Responsibility for the attack has not been definitively assigned.
The organizations highlighted the devastating impact of the attack, emphasizing that the intended supplies meant for vulnerable children and families could not reach their destinations. They further stated they are negotiating to complete their journey to el-Fasher, which is currently besieged by RSF forces. This convoy had already traveled over 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) from Port Sudan, located on the Red Sea, which serves as an interim base for the military-allied government of Sudan.
The RSF has claimed that the convoy was targeted by a military aircraft in what they described as a "preplanned attack." They released footage showing burned vehicles that appeared to be carrying flour bags. However, the military-led government refutes this claim, asserting that the aid trucks were "treacherously attacked by assault drones operated by the rebel Rapid Support Forces."
The Resistance Committees in el-Fasher, which monitor the conflict in the area, have attributed the attack to the RSF, accusing them of attempting to manipulate public perception and evade accountability for their actions. El-Fasher, located over 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Khartoum, remains one of the last strongholds of the Sudanese military within Darfur, while the RSF has maintained a siege on the region since May 2024.
This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on humanitarian operations over the past two years. Just last week, WFP's premises in el-Fasher were bombed, resulting in damage to a workshop, office building, and clinic, highlighting the increasing danger to aid workers.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, displacing approximately 13 million people, with more than 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. Certain areas in Sudan have descended into famine conditions.
The violence in the country has been marked by egregious human rights violations, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, which have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the Darfur region, according to the United Nations and various international human rights organizations.
