Five humanitarian workers killed in Sudan aid convoy attack
An attack on an aid convoy in Sudan has killed five humanitarian workers, the UN announced on June 3rd, as the conflict in the war-hit nation proceeds, according to Africanews.
The attack took place on the night of June 2nd, near El Koma in the province of North Darfur, as the convoy was travelling to El Fasher city.
El-Koma, run by the RSF, has faced repeated strikes in the fight between the Sudan paramilitary group (RSF) and the army. Attacks on the town caused civilian casualties and harmed vital infrastructure, according to the BBC on June 3rd.
On June 3rd, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the attack was a “horrendous act of violence.” Dujarric also said that the convoy consisted of 15 trucks and that “it had traveled over 1,800 kilometers from Port Sudan.”
Dujarric continued: “The agencies were negotiating access to complete the journey to El Fasher when it was attacked. The route that the convoy it was going to take was shared in advance with the parties on the ground who were notified and aware of the location of the trucks.”
He also said: “Multiple of our trucks were burnt in the attack and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged. This is devastating that the supplies have not reached the civilians in need. This was the first UN humanitarian convoy that was going to make it to El Fasher in over one year.”
The two groups involved in Sudan’s lethal civil war have blamed each other for attacking the UN convoy with drones. The UN did not explain how the strike occurred but demanded an investigation. The war started over two years ago and has caused one of the worst humanitarian disasters worldwide.
Previously, France 24 and AFP reported on May 6th that drones struck an airport and targeted a military base in Port Sudan. This attack marked three days in-a-row of military operations by the RSF. It was also confirmed that drones hit Port Sudan’s main power substation. As a result, the city experienced a power outage.
Africanews, BBC, France 24 and AFP
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