Drone Strike Obliterates UN Food Convoy in Sudan
UN food trucks destroyed in Sudan’s famine-stricken Darfur.
A devastating drone attack on Wednesday obliterated a United Nations convoy of 16 trucks carrying critical food supplies to Sudan’s famine-ravaged North Darfur region, the UN reported on August 21, 2025. The assault, which set all vehicles ablaze and destroyed them entirely, marks the second attack in three months targeting UN aid deliveries to the region, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.
UN associate spokesperson Daniela Gross confirmed that all drivers and personnel from the World Food Programme (WFP) convoy escaped unharmed. However, the loss of the trucks and their cargo has dealt a severe blow to efforts to alleviate starvation in North Darfur, particularly in the besieged capital, el-Fasher. Authorities have yet to identify those responsible for the attack, leaving questions about accountability amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Sudan has been gripped by violence since April 2023, when clashes between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in Khartoum and spread to Darfur and other regions. The conflict has claimed approximately 40,000 lives and displaced nearly 13 million people, with 25 million facing acute hunger, according to UN estimates. In June, the RSF, which controls much of Darfur, declared a parallel government in its territories, where allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity are under investigation.
Also Read: Massive Blaze Erupts as Ukraine and Russia Plan Prisoner Exchange
The attack follows a June incident where a WFP and UNICEF convoy was ambushed near el-Fasher, resulting in five deaths and multiple injuries. El-Fasher, the only Darfur state capital not under RSF control, remains encircled, with residents facing starvation. Famine was declared in North Darfur’s Zamzam displacement camp over a year ago, and the UN warns that 17 areas across Darfur and Kordofan are now at risk.
The destruction of the convoy has sparked outrage among aid organizations. “This is a deliberate attack on those trying to save lives,” said a WFP official, who requested anonymity. Local communities, already reeling from violence and scarcity, expressed despair. “We’re starving, and now even the little help we had is gone,” said Fatima Ahmed, a displaced mother in el-Fasher.
As investigations continue, the UN has called for urgent international action to protect humanitarian operations and address Sudan’s escalating crisis. With famine spreading and violence unabated, the region teeters on the brink of further catastrophe.
Also Read: Sudan’s Paramilitaries Declare Rival Government, Escalate Crisis
