Sudan conflict: Army denies bombing WFP convoy in Darfur
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Sudan’s warring factions trade blame over strike on aid in Darfur
The convoy was hit north of the city of al-Fashir, the army’s only holdout in the wider Darfur region. An estimated 300 000 remaining residents have been subject to a long siege by the rival Rapid Support Forces as fighting rages. The RSF accused the Sudanese army of hitting the convoys as part of a drone attack on Mellit market and other areas. The army later said in a statement that this was a fabrication to distract from what it termed the RSF’s crimes in al-fashir.
The convoy was hit north of the city of al-Fashir, the army’s only holdout in the wider Darfur region where an estimated 300 000 remaining residents have been subject to a long siege by the rival Rapid Support Forces as fighting rages.
Aid has frequently come under fire and been blockaded by both sides in the war, which erupted from a power struggle in April 2023 and has caused what the UN has called the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.
“On 20 August, a WFP convoy of 16 trucks carrying life-saving food aid for the most vulnerable populations in Alsayah village came under attack near Mellit, a famine-affected area in North Darfur,” WFP said in a statement, adding that three of the trucks caught fire but no one was hurt.
The RSF accused the Sudanese army of hitting the convoys as part of a drone attack on Mellit market and other areas. The army later said in a statement that this was a fabrication to distract from what it termed the RSF’s crimes in al-Fashir.
The RSF’s siege of al-Fashir has cut off supplies and driven up prices. Experts determined that famine had taken hold in parts of the area last year.
Civilians have come under artillery bombardment, drone strikes, as well as direct attacks. Camps for displaced people have been repeatedly attacked. Last week, local activists said more than 40 people were killed, including by direct fire, when RSF soldiers entered the Abu Shouk camp in the north of the city. The RSF denied responsibility for the deaths.
Those who leave al-Fashir face RSF checkpoints and have come under attack, including sexual assaults.
Some 70 trucks of supplies are waiting in the RSF-controlled city of Nyala to get to al-Fashir, but security guarantees were needed as humanitarian workers were coming under attack, said Edem Wosornu of UN humanitarian agency OCHA.
“We have food, we have medical supplies, we have kits for gender-based violence, we have life-saving equipment that will save lives,” she said.
US senior Africa advisor Massad Boulos, who last week called on the RSF to ensure aid reaches al-Fashir, condemned the convoy attack.
WFP aid convoy attacked in Sudan’s Darfur: spokesperson
Aid convoy operated by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) came under attack on Wednesday near the famine-hit Sudanese town of Mellit. All members of the convoy were “safe and accounted for”, the WFP said. The attack took place in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the regular army since April 2023. Several countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Egypt voiced alarm at the worsening hunger situation in war-torn Sudan. The wider war – now in its third year – has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than a million people are on the brink of starvation in North Darfur alone, according to the UN. The RSF blamed the Sudanese army for carrying out the attack by air, calling it a “treacherous act of aggression”. In a similar attack in June, five aid workers were killed in a joint WFP-UNICEF convoy en route to El-Fasher.
The incident came as several countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Egypt voiced alarm at the worsening hunger situation in war-torn Sudan, calling for pauses in fighting to let in more aid.
Three of the 16 trucks in the convoy – which was carrying life-saving food assistance for vulnerable communities in Alsayah village – were damaged and caught fire, said the WFP’s Gift Watanasathorn, adding that all members of the convoy were “safe and accounted for”.
“Humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target,” Watanasathorn said, urging the warring parties to “respect international humanitarian law”.
#KeepEyesOnSudan An airstrike carried out by SAF in Mellit targeted humanitarian aid convoy
belonging to @WFP relief trucks,causing damage and losses to the aid supplies. This attack is Just coming after the statement of @UNHCRinSudan issued yesterday. pic.twitter.com/BJYF00TfM6 — GOUJA AHMED (@qoga12) August 20, 2025
The spokesperson did not specify who was behind the assault, which took place in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the regular army since April 2023.
Mellit, about 65 kilometres northeast of North Darfur’s besieged capital of El-Fasher, has been under paramilitary control since April 2024.
El-Fasher remains the last major stronghold under army control in the western Darfur region, and has been under paramilitary siege for over a year.
In a statement, the RSF blamed the Sudanese army for carrying out the attack by air, calling it a “treacherous act of aggression”.
There was no immediate comment from the army.
Humanitarian ‘deterioration’
Both sides in the conflict have been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war, as well as obstructing or looting humanitarian aid.
In a similar attack in June, five aid workers were killed in a joint WFP-UNICEF convoy en route to El-Fasher.
On Wednesday, several key players in the diplomacy surrounding the Sudan crisis – including the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the African Union and the United Nations – issued a joint statement calling for urgent pauses in fighting to allow aid to reach civilians.
They said they were “appalled by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan”, citing severe malnutrition and famine, as well as widespread restrictions on humanitarian access.
Today Wednesday 20/8/2025 MB/NCP SAF terrorists Airforce strike on @WFP convoy in North Darfor , Malit , 65 km to the North of El Fashir city. How could MB/NCP SAF Jihadists speak about El Fashir crisis & civilians right there & hunger asking for permissions to bring humanitarian… pic.twitter.com/Yc3gl9vJmd — Alaa Edin (@aanogoud) August 20, 2025
Also joining the statement was the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of backing the RSF, most recently by hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight against the army on the paramilitaries’ behalf.
Paramilitary attacks in North Darfur have intensified in recent months as the RSF seeks to consolidate its hold on all of Darfur after losing Sudan’s capital Khartoum in March.
The wider war – now in its third year – has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with more than a million people on the brink of starvation in North Darfur alone.
While famine was officially declared last year in three displacement camps around El-Fasher, the UN had warned it could spread to the city itself – though a lack of access and reliable data has prevented an updated assessment.
Sudanese Armed Forces #SAF denied the accusation of targeting a humanitarian aid convoy in North Darfur state. https://t.co/IXYlJKcta7 pic.twitter.com/giVdtLTb2p — Sudan News 24 (@Ivadleber) August 21, 2025
The fighting has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and created a dire hunger crisis.
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Source: AFP
Sudan’s army denies bombing convoy taking aid to famine-hit area
Three lorries in the 16-vehicle convoy were damaged and caught fire. All staff travelling in the convoy were safe, the WFP said. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had blamed the army for Wednesday’s air strike in the town of Mellit, which is under RSF control. The attack is the latest in a string of assaults on humanitarian operations in Sudan. Both sides have previously been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by obstructing the delivery of aid.
Sudan’s army has denied bombing a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy taking aid to a famine-hit area in the country’s Darfur region.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had blamed the army for Wednesday’s air strike in the town of Mellit, which is under RSF control.
The WFP did not give many details of the attack, but said three lorries in the 16-vehicle convoy were damaged and caught fire. All staff travelling in the convoy were safe, it added.
Sudan plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a vicious power struggle erupted between the army and the RSF, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The RSF does not have an air force, but both sides use drones.
The attack is the latest in a string of assaults on humanitarian operations in Sudan.
“Humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target,” the WFP said, urging the warring parties to respect international humanitarian law.
The WFP said that it was “urgently gathering additional information” and “assessing the impact” of Wednesday’s attack.
The convoy was headed towards a village near Mellit, a “famine-affected area” some 90km (56 miles) north-west of el-Fasher, the WFP added. The city, the army’s last foothold in the Darfur region, has been besieged by the RSF for more than a year.
It is one of the main areas of conflict in the civil war, and the RSF has intensified its battle for control of el-Fasher in recent weeks.
Both sides have previously been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by obstructing the delivery of aid and looting food.
Five aid workers were killed in a similar attack in el-Fasher in June.
Tens of thousands of people have died, and 12 million have been forced from their homes because of the conflict.
More than 4.5 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled to neighbouring countries.
Sudan Army denies bombing WFP aid convoy in Darfur
Sudan’s army has denied targeting a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy delivering aid to famine-hit areas in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had blamed the army for Wednesday’s air strike in Mellit, a town under RSF control. The WFP said three of the convoy’s 16 trucks were damaged and caught fire, but all staff were safe.
The WFP said three of the convoy’s 16 trucks were damaged and caught fire, but all staff were safe. The organization is assessing the full impact and gathering more information.
Sudan has been in a civil war since April 2023, after a power struggle erupted between the army and RSF, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Both sides have used drones in the conflict, and attacks on aid operations have become frequent.
The convoy was heading to a famine-affected village near Mellit, about 90 km northwest of el-Fasher, which the RSF has besieged for over a year. Both the army and RSF have been accused of obstructing aid deliveries and using starvation as a weapon of war.
In June, five aid workers were killed in a similar attack in el-Fasher. So far, tens of thousands have died, 12 million have been displaced, and over 4.5 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled to neighbouring countries.
Sudan conflict: Army denies bombing WFP convoy in Darfur
Sudan’s army denies bombing convoy taking aid to famine-hit area. Three lorries in the 16-vehicle convoy were damaged and caught fire. All staff travelling in the convoy were safe, the World Food Programme said. Sudan plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a vicious power struggle erupted between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) The RSF had blamed the army for Wednesday’s air strike in the town of Mellit, which is under RSF control.
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AFP via Getty Images The conflict in Sudan has caused a massive humanitarian crisis (archive shot)
Sudan’s army has denied bombing a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy taking aid to a famine-hit area in the country’s Darfur region. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had blamed the army for Wednesday’s air strike in the town of Mellit, which is under RSF control. The WFP did not give many details of the attack, but said three lorries in the 16-vehicle convoy were damaged and caught fire. All staff travelling in the convoy were safe, it added. Sudan plunged into a civil war in April 2023 after a vicious power struggle erupted between the army and the RSF, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The RSF does not have an air force, but both sides use drones. The attack is the latest in a string of assaults on humanitarian operations in Sudan. “Humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target,” the WFP said, urging the warring parties to respect international humanitarian law.
The WFP said that it was “urgently gathering additional information” and “assessing the impact” of Wednesday’s attack. Aid worker returns to base where he hid from bullets
Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening The convoy was headed towards a village near Mellit, a “famine-affected area” some 90km (56 miles) north-west of el-Fasher, the WFP added. The city, the army’s last foothold in the Darfur region, has been besieged by the RSF for more than a year. It is one of the main areas of conflict in the civil war, and the RSF has intensified its battle for control of el-Fasher in recent weeks. Both sides have previously been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war by obstructing the delivery of aid and looting food. Five aid workers were killed in a similar attack in el-Fasher in June. Tens of thousands of people have died, and 12 million have been forced from their homes because of the conflict. More than 4.5 million refugees, mostly women and children, have fled to neighbouring countries.
More BBC stories on the war in Sudan:
Getty Images/BBC