A United Nations aid convoy en route to the besieged city of El Fasher in North Darfur was attacked on Monday night, triggering alarm over the worsening security and humanitarian conditions in Sudan’s war-torn western region.
According to UNICEF, the convoy—carrying food and medical aid on behalf of both UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP)—was targeted while waiting for clearance in Al-Koma, a town along the supply route to El Fasher. The agency confirmed receiving reports of “multiple casualties,” though the exact number and identities remain unconfirmed.
The UN has strongly condemned the assault, calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law. However, no party has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under siege for months, and aid agencies have warned that famine conditions are emerging due to prolonged conflict, road blockades, and destruction of critical infrastructure. Delivering aid to the region has become increasingly perilous.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced this week that the number of people who have fled Sudan since the outbreak of war in April 2023