UN Agencies Condemn Violent Attack on Humanitarian Convoys in Sudan

THABO MONYELA|June 4, 2025

***CONDEMNED: The UNWFP and UNICEF have condemned a deadly attack on a joint humanitarian convoy in Sudan on Monday, 2 June. Photo: Supplied***

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) condemned a deadly attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near Al Koma, North Darfur in Sudan on Monday, 2 June.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, both aid agencies revealed that five people were killed, several others injured, multiple trucks burned, and critical humanitarian supplies damaged.

“Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged. The convoy, made up of 15 trucks, was attempting to reach children and families in famine-affected El Fasher with life-saving food and nutrition supplies.

“Following months of escalating violence, hundreds of thousands of people in El Fasher – many of them children – are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation if supplies do not urgently reach them, “ the agencies said.

***INVESTIGATION: The U.N. agencies have called for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held accountable. Photo: Supplied***

The aid convoys were attacked, even though the route was shared in advance, and conflicting parties were notified and made aware of the location of the trucks, in order for the aid to be protected.

“It is devastating the supplies have not reached the vulnerable children and families they were intended to. The convoy had travelled over 1,800km from Port Sudan and we were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked.

“This latest incident follows a series of attacks on humanitarian operations over the past two years, including last week’s bombardment of WFP’s premises in El Fasher which damaged a workshop, office building and clinic, “ stated the agencies.

The U.N. agencies demanded an immediate end to attacks on humanitarian personnel, facilities, and vehicles and called for an urgent investigation and for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

The Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been engaged in a power struggle since April 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths in the capital of North Darfur, El-Fasher.

According to U.N. reports, more than 20,000 people have been killed and 13 million have had to flee their homes for safety, as a result of the war.