New York, June 3(Darfur24)
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF condemned on Tuesday an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy near the town of Al-Koma, North Darfur.
A joint statement on the attack on the convoy confirmed that five convoy members were killed and others wounded. Several trucks were also burned, and vital humanitarian supplies were damaged.
The convoy, consisting of 15 trucks, was on its way to deliver critical food and nutrition assistance to children and families in the famine-stricken city of El Fasher, according to the statement.
Hundreds of thousands of El Fasher residents—many of them children—face a grave risk of malnutrition and starvation if supplies do not reach them urgently, according to the statement.
He added, “The convoy’s route was predetermined, and the relevant authorities on the ground were notified and informed of the trucks’ location. Under international humanitarian law, relief convoys must be protected, and the parties have an obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.”
The statement demanded an immediate end to attacks on humanitarian workers, their facilities, and vehicles, considering it a violation under international humanitarian law. It called for an urgent investigation and accountability for the perpetrators.
The convoy traveled more than 1,800 kilometers from Port Sudan, stating, “We were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked.”
This incident follows a series of attacks on humanitarian operations over the past two years, including the bombing of the World Food Programme (WFP) headquarters in El Fasher last week.
The Rapid Support Forces RSF and Sudanese authorities have traded accusations regarding the bombing of the World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian convoy trucks in the Al-Koma area of North Darfur.
The Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations, affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces, said in a statement that the attack resulted in the deaths of four members of the convoy, the injury of two others, and the complete destruction of seven vehicles.
The statement stated that the convoy that was attacked was carrying food and medical aid for the people of Darfur and had been detained for more than 15 days in the Dabba area by military intelligence.
A statement issued by the office of the Sudanese government spokesperson stated that “UN humanitarian relief trucks were attacked by drones belonging to the Rapid Support Forces in the Al-Koma area, in a deliberate attempt to block the humanitarian teams and disrupt their mission to deliver aid to the besieged citizens of El Fasher.”
The statement explained that the attack resulted in the destruction of several UN trucks, the killing of several guards, drivers, and civilians, and the injury of other security personnel accompanying the convoy.