A humanitarian crisis deepened further in Sudan when an aid convoy operated by the World Food Programme (WFP) came under violent attack in North Darfur, sparking a volley of accusations between the Sudanese Government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday, June 3.
The Government labelled the assault “a deliberate attempt to obstruct” vital relief efforts to the beleaguered city of El Fasher and its surrounding displacement camps. Several guards and civilians lost their lives, while UN-branded trucks lay in ruins — a chilling blow to humanitarian access in the war-torn region.
Grassroot voices, including the El-Fasher Resistance Coordination, swiftly condemned the assault, branding it a “war crime” that jeopardizes the “last remaining lifeline” for millions already grappling with hunger and dislocation. Meanwhile, the RSF offered a starkly different narrative, accusing Sudanese government forces of launching the strike near Al-Kuma. The group claimed four fatalities, two injuries, and the destruction of seven aid vehicles, asserting the attack was neither incidental nor provoked by them.
El Fasher — a strategic humanitarian corridor and capital of North Darfur — has become a fierce battleground since renewed hostilities erupted in May 2024, further destabilising the region. The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF, ignited in April 2023, has plunged the country into a devastating humanitarian abyss. While official UN and local figures cite over 20,000 deaths and 15 million displaced, external research groups estimate casualties could be sixfold higher — painting a dire picture of a nation fracturing under the weight of its own warfare.