NAIROBI (Kaab TV) — The ALPS group — a coalition comprising the governments of the United States, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, along with the African Union and the United Nations — has strongly condemned a deadly attack on a United Nations humanitarian convoy in Sudan that left five aid workers dead and destroyed critical life-saving supplies.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families, colleagues, and communities of those who were killed while working to assist others in desperate need,” the coalition said in a joint statement.
The attack occurred on Monday night near the town of El Koma in North Darfur province, as the convoy was en route to the city of El Fasher.
The United Nations confirmed the deaths and the destruction of several aid trucks.
According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the convoy — a joint operation by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF — consisted of 15 trucks and had traveled more than 1,800 kilometers from Port Sudan, carrying vital nutrition and food supplies.
“This horrendous act of violence is devastating,” Dujarric told reporters at a press briefing in New York on Tuesday.
“Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were destroyed. This was the first UN humanitarian convoy that was going to make it to El Fasher in over a year.”
The UN said negotiations were underway with local authorities to ensure safe passage to El Fasher when the attack occurred.
The perpetrators of the assault remain unidentified, and Sudan’s rival factions are trading blame.
The ALPS coalition emphasized that attacks on civilians, aid workers, and humanitarian assets constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
“We urgently reiterate the need for full respect of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel,” the statement read. “We call on all parties to allow and facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to people in need.”
Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war since April 2023, when conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The war has displaced millions and has been marked by widespread atrocities, including ethnic violence and mass sexual violence, particularly in Darfur.
The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with large parts of the population now dependent on aid for survival.