UN food agency says two WFP trucks attacked in southern Sudan, one driver killed
In short
The World Food Programme said two of its trucks were attacked in South Kordofan state in southern Sudan on October 3, killing one truck driver. The agency said the vehicles were carrying food and other humanitarian aid from Dilling to Kadugli and were marked as humanitarian vehicles, and it called for a swift, impartial investigation. It was the second attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Sudan in recent weeks, after a WFP convoy was attacked near Dilling on September 2.
Read the full story 1 min read
The World Food Programme said two trucks belonging to the agency were attacked in South Kordofan state in southern Sudan on October 3, killing one truck driver, according to reports by China News Service and Jiemian News. The agency said the vehicles were travelling from Dilling, the state's second-largest city, to Kadugli, the state capital, were loaded with food and other humanitarian aid and carried clear humanitarian vehicle markings. [ 3 , 4 ]
The WFP statement did not say who carried out the attack. The agency called for a swift and impartial investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable, the two outlets reported. Yicai also reported that a United Nations humanitarian convoy had been attacked in southern Sudan and that one driver had been killed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the WFP statement, the incident was the second attack on a UN humanitarian convoy in Sudan in recent weeks. On September 2, a WFP convoy carrying humanitarian aid was attacked by armed men near Dilling, killing one person and injuring two, the reports said. [ 3 , 4 ]
The reports said fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has continued to escalate in three states of the Kordofan region, which they described as one of the main focal points of the current conflict. The war began on April 15, 2023, when the two forces clashed in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other parts of the country. More than three years of fighting have killed at least 59,000 people, according to the reports. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The attack is the second on a WFP convoy in Sudan in about a month, and the reports place it inside an escalation of fighting in the Kordofan region that the outlets describe as a main focus of the war. The WFP's call for an investigation and accountability points to the risk to aid delivery in the area. The reports give no further indication of consequences beyond that.
Key facts
- The World Food Programme said two of its trucks were attacked in South Kordofan state in southern Sudan on October 3 and that one truck driver was killed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- WFP said the vehicles were travelling from Dilling, the state's second-largest city, to the state capital Kadugli, were loaded with food and other humanitarian aid and carried clear humanitarian vehicle markings. [ 3 , 4 ]
- WFP did not name the attackers and called for a swift, impartial investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. [ 3 , 4 ]
- According to the WFP statement, a WFP aid convoy was attacked by armed men near Dilling on September 2, killing one person and injuring two. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The reports said clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have escalated in three Kordofan states, which they described as one of the main focal points of the conflict. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The conflict began on April 15, 2023, when the two forces clashed in Khartoum and spread to other parts of Sudan, and has killed at least 59,000 people over more than three years, the reports said. [ 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A United Nations humanitarian convoy was attacked in southern Sudan and one driver was killed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The World Food Programme said two of its trucks were attacked in South Kordofan state on October 3, killing one truck driver. [ 3 , 4 ]
- WFP said the trucks were carrying food and other humanitarian aid from Dilling to Kadugli and were marked as humanitarian vehicles. [ 3 , 4 ]
- WFP did not name the attackers and called for a swift, impartial investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. [ 3 , 4 ]
- According to the WFP statement, a WFP aid convoy was attacked by armed men near Dilling on September 2, killing one person and injuring two. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The reports said fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has escalated in three Kordofan states, and that the conflict, which began in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, has killed at least 59,000 people. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Who carried out the attack on the convoy. The WFP statement did not say who was responsible, and neither outlet named a perpetrator.
- The precise location of the attack. The reports say only that it happened in South Kordofan state, on the route between Dilling and Kadugli; no city is given.
- Whether the two detailed reports are independent accounts. The China News Service and Jiemian reports carry identical wording, and the Jiemian version is credited to CCTV News, so they appear to share one origin.
- What happened to the two trucks and the aid cargo they were carrying. The documents report the death of the driver but do not describe the condition of the vehicles or whether the cargo was lost.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yicai publishes its report that a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked in southern Sudan and one driver was killed. [ 2 ]
- China News Service publishes the WFP statement, giving the date and place of the attack and the earlier September 2 convoy incident. [ 3 ]
- Jiemian publishes its report with the same WFP statement details. [ 4 ]