UN aid workers killed in ambush in African state
The convoy, jointly operated by the World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF, was en route to the war-torn North Darfur city of Al Fashir when it came under fire while parked 80 kilometers away, awaiting clearance, the agencies said in a statement on Tuesday.
'The convoy, made up of 15 trucks, was attempting to reach children and families in famine-affected Al Fashir with life-saving food and nutrition supplies,' they reported.
According to the statement, several trucks were burned and vital humanitarian supplies damaged.
The five victims were Sudanese contractors employed by the UN agencies.
'The United Nations condemns this horrendous attack in the strongest possible terms,' UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday.
The convoy had traveled more than 1,800 km from Port Sudan, which itself has endured drone strikes, in what the UN said would have been the first aid delivery to Al Fashir in over a year.
The ambush follows recent escalations in violence, including a bombing of WFP premises in the city last week and a deadly drone strike on a hospital in the North Kordofan capital, El Obeid.
The African country has been mired in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Over 9 million people have been displaced by the war, and humanitarian groups warn that famine and disease are spreading rapidly. According to the UN, at least 1.5 million people are trapped in Al Fashir and its surrounding camps, cut off from sustained aid delivery.
On Tuesday, the UN food agency and UNICEF warned that hundreds of thousands of people in the region, many of whom are children, face a 'high risk of malnutrition and starvation if supplies do not urgently reach them.'
The WFP and UNICEF said that while their teams remain on the ground despite the insecurity, Sudan's warring parties must uphold international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of aid workers.
'Both agencies demand an immediate end to attacks on humanitarian personnel, their facilities and vehicles,' they stated.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
Thailand and Cambodia agree to talk after Trump threat
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to start talks on a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump had warned that he would not pursue trade agreements with either country if they continued fighting. However, the sides have continued to exchange fire. A territorial dispute had been simmering between the countries since the colonial era, as an early 20th century French map left some parts of the border ill-defined. On Wednesday, five Thai soldiers were wounded by landmines in the disputed area, prompting Thailand to allege that they were newly laid. A skirmish ensued the next day that escalated into sustained fighting, with each side accusing the other of provoking the conflict. Since the start of hostilities, at least 34 people have been killed, including civilians and soldiers on both sides; tens of thousands have been displaced. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with both countries' leaders and urged an 'immediate ceasefire.' 'We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting — And I have told them so,' he wrote. He later added that the countries 'have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE.' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Sunday that his country has agreed to an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire,' adding that Trump told him Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks. Thailand's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had spoken with Trump and 'in principle' accepted the ceasefire proposal. However, it added that Thailand expected 'genuine commitment from Cambodia.' Despite the statements, the two countries exchanged fire on Sunday. Cambodia accused Thailand of launching a 'large-scale incursion' with tanks and heavy shelling. Bangkok countered that a cessation of hostilities 'cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith' and accused the opposing forces of violating humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamad Hasan announced that the two countries will hold talks in his country on Monday, adding that Kuala Lumpur should guide the settlement process.
Russia Today
8 hours ago
- Russia Today
Russia and Ukraine agree on leaders' summit — Turkish FM
Moscow and Kiev have agreed for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. His remarks came shortly after the latest round of bilateral negotiations facilitated by Ankara. The third round of direct peace talks took place on Wednesday in Istanbul. While no ceasefire was reached, the parties made some progress on humanitarian issues, including agreements on the further exchange of prisoners of war and civilians. 'During the meeting, leaders discussed the conditions under which they might come together,' Fidan told Turkish broadcaster NTV on Friday, noting that 'a summit between the leaders in Türkiye was agreed upon in principle.' Earlier in the week, Fidan described the Istanbul talks as another step toward ending the conflict, emphasizing that 'every new achievement brings the sides one step closer to peace.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky is being considered, but stressed that it should only take place at the final stage of peace negotiations. He added that such a summit is 'unlikely' to happen within a month. Russia maintains that it is open to a diplomatic solution, but only one that addresses what it calls the 'root causes' of the war and Moscow's security concerns. Zelensky has long called for a personal meeting with Putin. Ukraine's negotiators reiterated the proposal in Istanbul this week, saying that a one-on-one summit was a key step toward ending the fighting. US President Donald Trump has also voiced support for direct talks between the two leaders as part of a broader push to resolve the conflict. Moscow has never ruled out the possibility, but insists that the necessary groundwork must first be established. Russia has questioned Zelensky's legitimacy, citing the expiration of his five-year term in May 2024. Zelensky has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law. Russian officials argue that any agreements signed under his authority could potentially be contested. The Kremlin has also demanded that Ukraine lift martial law and hold elections within 100 days as a condition for any long-term ceasefire.
Russia Today
16 hours ago
- Russia Today
Israel has to ‘get rid' of Hamas
US President Donald Trump has said that Israel will have to drive Hamas out of Gaza, as ceasefire talks have once again stalled. The president said the Palestinian militants have not negotiated in good faith and are using the remaining Israeli hostages as leverage. He stated that West Jerusalem must 'clean it up' and 'get rid' of the group. 'Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and it's very bad. It got to a point where you have to finish the job,' Trump told reporters on Friday before departing for a trip to Scotland. 'Now they are going to be hunted down,' he added. Israel recalled its team from indirect talks in Qatar earlier this week. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, accused Hamas of showing 'a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire' and said the US would 'consider alternative options' to free the hostages and 'create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.'Israeli officials have long insisted that their objective is to completely eliminate Hamas from the Palestinian enclave. However, The New York Times cited three officials as saying the withdrawal from negotiations did not signal a collapse of the talks. Hamas said it was 'surprised' by Witkoff's remarks, claiming it had 'submitted its final response' to Israel's terms. Both sides have blamed each other for the failure to reach a breakthrough since the two-month truce expired in March. The UN and aid organizations have renewed calls for Israel to allow more food and essential supplies into Gaza, describing the situation as a 'man-made' famine in the densely populated enclave. Israel has said it is committed to increasing aid, but through channels that bypass Hamas, which it accuses of hoarding food.
