Air strike in Sudan kills UN aid truck driver: WFP

What Happened

An air strike hit a World Food Programme (WFP) food aid convoy in South Kordofan state on Saturday, killing one truck driver, according to the WFP. The WFP said the trucks were clearly marked as humanitarian vehicles and were travelling between two cities controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) when the attack occurred. The WFP did not identify who carried out the strike, and said the extent of the damage and additional details are still being assessed. The UN agency has called for an investigation.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The strike on a clearly marked UN humanitarian convoy underscores the growing danger to aid operations in Sudan, where war has displaced 14 million people and created one of the world's worst food crises. Between February and May, 19.5 million people were struggling with acute food crises, more than five million faced extreme food shortages, and 135,000 were at risk of famine. The Kordofan region has seen one in five attacks in Sudan since the war began in April 2023, and both the SAF and RSF have escalated drone strikes against towns and civilian infrastructure, further constraining life-saving assistance.

Watch For

The outcome of the WFP's requested investigation and any party found responsible for the strike. Monitor whether this attack leads to suspension or alteration of WFP convoy routes between SAF-held cities in South Kordofan, and watch for further drone or air strikes on civilian and humanitarian infrastructure as fighting between the SAF and RSF intensifies across Kordofan.