Sudan’s army denied bombing a World Food Programme convoy on Wednesday after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accused it of carrying out an air strike in the Darfur town of Mellit.
The WFP confirmed the incident, saying three lorries in a 16-vehicle convoy were hit and caught fire. The U.N. agency said all staff were safe but gave no further details.
The convoy was headed to a famine-hit village near Mellit, about 90 km northwest of el-Fasher, the army’s last major stronghold in Darfur. The city has been under siege by RSF fighters for more than a year.
Sudan has been in civil war since April 2023 after a power struggle between the army and RSF escalated into nationwide conflict. Millions have been displaced and international observers describe the humanitarian situation as one of the worst in the world.
The RSF has no air force but both sides use drones, complicating efforts to assign responsibility for air strikes.
The WFP said “humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target” and urged both factions to respect international law. The agency is assessing the impact on its operations.
Aid convoys have come under repeated attack during the war. In June, five aid workers were killed in el-Fasher. Rights groups accuse both sides of blocking food and using starvation as a weapon.
The U.N. says the conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced 12 million from their homes. More than 4.5 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled to neighboring states, straining regional resources.
