• Five UN aid workers killed in an attack on a humanitarian convoy in North Darfur.
• The convoy was targeted while delivering essential supplies to famine-stricken civilians.
• Both the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces blame each other for the attack.
• The humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated, with millions facing starvation.
• This convoy was the first UN aid delivery to el-Fasher in over a year.

In a tragic incident in Sudan, five United Nations aid workers were killed when their convoy was attacked near the town of El-Koma in North Darfur. The convoy, comprising 15 trucks, was transporting critical humanitarian supplies to el-Fasher, a city besieged by conflict and in dire need of assistance. This event exacerbates the already severe humanitarian crisis, with millions facing acute hunger, particularly in the Darfur region, according to BBC, Al Jazeera, Africa News, India Times, NY Times, and NPR.

The attack occurred late Monday, with both the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exchanging accusations about responsibility. As reported, RSF officials suggested the convoy was hit by airstrikes orchestrated by the army, while the army claimed that the RSF had conducted the attack, further complicating the factual narrative and highlighting the dangerous environment for humanitarian operations. The United Nations condemned this act, emphasizing that it violated international humanitarian law, according to BBC, Al Jazeera, Africa News, India Times, NY Times, and NPR.

Describing the event, UN officials noted that the convoy had traveled over 1,800 kilometers from Port Sudan to deliver urgently needed nutrition and food supplies to vulnerable populations. This was the first delivery of its kind to reach el-Fasher in over a year, making the attack even more devastating. The added complexity of ongoing violence has rendered humanitarian efforts perilous, amplifying the risk of starvation for many, with the UN stating that nearly 25 million people in Sudan require humanitarian support, according to BBC, Al Jazeera, Africa News, India Times, NY Times, and NPR.