In this photo released by the NGO Mercy Corps, Sudanese families displaced by RSF attacks in Kordofan take shelter in a football stadium in Kadugli, South Kordofan province, Sudan, May 27, 2025.
A deadly drone strike has destroyed 16 trucks carrying vital UN food aid to famine-stricken North Darfur. The attack has deepened fears about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where millions face starvation.
UN Convoy Targeted in North Darfur
The United Nations confirmed that all 16 trucks, part of a World Food Program (WFP) convoy, were set ablaze. The convoy was transporting emergency food supplies to North Darfur, one of Sudan’s most famine-hit regions.
Fortunately, UN officials said all drivers and personnel survived the attack unharmed. However, the destruction of desperately needed aid has left thousands without immediate relief.
Second Attack in Three Months
According to UN spokesperson Daniela Gross, responsibility for the assault remains unclear. She noted this was the second such attack in less than three months.
In early June, another humanitarian convoy from the World Food Program and UNICEF was ambushed while awaiting clearance for el-Fasher, Darfur’s besieged capital. That incident killed five people and injured several others.
Escalating Conflict Since 2023
Sudan has been engulfed in violent conflict since April 2023. Tensions between the country’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) exploded into war. Fighting began in Khartoum and quickly spread to Darfur and other regions.
The United Nations estimates around 40,000 people have been killed. Nearly 13 million have been forced to flee their homes, while 25 million face acute hunger.
Starvation Looms in El-Fasher
The RSF and its allied groups announced in June that they had formed a parallel government in areas under their control. Most of Darfur is now dominated by the paramilitary forces.
Only el-Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, remains outside RSF control. But the city is surrounded and under siege. The UN warns that residents are on the brink of starvation as access to food and aid is blocked.
Growing Risk of Famine
Over a year ago, famine was declared in the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur. Since then, the threat has spread across 17 areas in Darfur and the Kordofan region.
These areas, west of Khartoum, remain cut off from sustained humanitarian aid. With continued attacks on UN convoys, relief efforts are increasingly paralyzed.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The latest drone strike underscores the dangers faced by aid workers in Sudan. It also highlights the urgent need for safe corridors to deliver humanitarian assistance.
The destruction of food convoys means thousands in famine-hit North Darfur will go hungry. For millions already at risk, the loss of these supplies could push them closer to catastrophe.
