The 15-truck convoy, which was attacked overnight, was carrying essential humanitarian supplies from Port Sudan to North Darfur, according to aid organizations.
“The convoy had five members killed and several others were hurt. According to a joint statement from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), multiple trucks were burned, and important humanitarian supplies were harmed.
The organizations described the incident as a violation of international humanitarian law and demanded an immediate investigation. Both parties involved in fighting knew the strategy in advance.
When it started to fire, the convoy was about to enter al-Koma, a town that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) controlled. According to local activists, the area was the site of a drone attack earlier this week that claimed the lives of civilians.
More than half of Sudan’s population has been suffering from acute hunger as a result of fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army that has raged for more than two years. One of the region’s most vulnerable regions is El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The UN statement warned that “hundreds of thousands of people in El-Fasher are at risk of starvation and malnutrition.”
The attack was blamed on both sides. The army claimed RSF fighters tore the trucks, while the RSF claimed the army launched an air attack on the convoy. No one could independently verify either account.
The most recent assault on humanitarian operations comes at a clip.
Source: Aljazeera
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