Two trucks carrying food aid for thousands of vulnerable families in Sudan’s conflict-hit South Kordofan state were destroyed in an aerial attack over the weekend, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Wednesday.
DILLING, Sudan — September 3, 2026
The attack took place on August 30 outside the city of Dilling, according to the WFP. The trucks were transporting approximately 50 metric tonnes of food, including cereals, yellow split peas, vegetable oil and salt.
The supplies were enough to provide lifesaving food assistance to approximately 5,800 people for one month.
The trucks were travelling toward Kadugli, where the WFP is supporting nearly 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse.
Aid convoy clearly marked
The WFP said the vehicles were clearly marked with its banners and flags when they came under attack.
The UN agency strongly condemned the incident, describing it as another example of the increasingly dangerous and complex environment in which humanitarian organizations are attempting to operate across Sudan.
“Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop,” the WFP said, calling on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law.
The agency also stressed the need to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and aid infrastructure as the war continues to restrict access to communities in desperate need of food and other essential assistance.
Sudan's humanitarian crisis deepens
Sudan has been engulfed by war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The conflict has devastated communities, displaced millions and severely disrupted food production, markets and humanitarian access.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to the fighting and for unhindered humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the conflict.
The scale of the crisis remains enormous. According to UN figures cited by UN News, around 30 million people required humanitarian assistance in Sudan last year.
South Kordofan has been among the areas particularly affected by insecurity and restricted access, making the destruction of food shipments an especially serious setback for communities already facing acute shortages.
Eight attacks reported since January
The WFP said it has recorded eight aerial attacks since January that have damaged its premises or disrupted humanitarian operations.
The latest incident underscores the growing risks faced by humanitarian organizations attempting to move food and other essential supplies through active conflict zones.
For families in and around Kadugli, the destruction of the food convoy means that assistance intended to cover an entire month has been lost before reaching its destination.
The WFP has urged all parties to protect humanitarian operations and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.
As Sudan's war continues into its fourth year, aid agencies warn that attacks on humanitarian assets can further isolate communities already struggling to survive.
