UN migration agency condemns deadly attack on aid convoy in North Darfur

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday condemned the killing of five aid workers in a brutal attack on a joint humanitarian convoy in El Fasher, North Darfur, calling it a devastating blow to humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

In a statement, the IOM said it mourns the loss of its colleagues and stands in solidarity with the wider humanitarian community.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and colleagues of those who lost their lives and to all who were injured in this horrific act," the organization said.

The attack, which destroyed vital food assistance meant for famine-stricken communities, comes as El Fasher remains under siege for over a year. Thousands of families in the area continue to face hunger, displacement, and worsening conditions amid ongoing conflict.

"This deliberate attack is an assault on humanitarian workers and on the millions of people in Sudan whose survival depends on the timely delivery of aid," the agency said.

It emphasized the urgent need for safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access, stressing that any disruption costs lives in a crisis that has already displaced millions.

The IOM called on all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international law and ensure the protection of aid workers and civilians.

"Humanitarian workers are not a target," the statement said, urging for accountability and renewed commitment to ensuring life-saving assistance reaches those most in need.

The UN World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF on Tuesday announced that a deadly attack hit on a joint humanitarian convoy in Sudan's North Darfur state.

"Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged," the agencies said in a joint statement.

The convoy, comprising 15 trucks, had been en route to El-Fasher in western Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of people, including many children, are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation, according to the statement.

The UN agencies said the route had been shared in advance with parties on the ground according to standard procedure.