On August 20, 2025, a United Nations humanitarian convoy carrying desperately needed food was struck by a drone attack in Mellit, North Darfur, Sudan, destroying all 16 trucks and their cargo. The attack comes as Sudan grapples with a devastating humanitarian crisis and ongoing conflict, leaving millions facing acute hunger and displacement. According to the United Nations, all drivers and personnel traveling with the World Food Programme (WFP) convoy were reported safe, a small relief in an otherwise grim episode.
This incident marks the second time in three months that a UN convoy attempting to deliver aid to North Darfur has been attacked. The previous attack, which occurred in early June 2025 in Al Koma, North Darfur, resulted in the deaths of five aid workers and injuries to several others, as reported by the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. The repeated targeting of humanitarian convoys has raised alarm among international organizations and governments, who fear the worsening crisis in Sudan could spiral even further out of control.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 due to long-simmering tensions between the country’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has since spread from the capital, Khartoum, to the western Darfur region and beyond. The United Nations estimates that about 40,000 people have been killed and nearly 13 million displaced since the violence began. The scale of the humanitarian disaster is staggering: nearly 25 million people are experiencing acute hunger, with famine risks spreading across Darfur and the adjacent Kordofan region, according to UN agencies.
Responsibility for the August 20 attack remains unclear, with both sides trading blame. The RSF accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the drone strike on Mellit market and the surrounding area, while the army dismissed the accusation as "a fabrication to distract from what it termed the RSF’s crimes," according to Al Jazeera. This war of words reflects the broader chaos and mistrust that has gripped Sudan since the outbreak of hostilities more than two years ago.
The RSF and its allies, who control much of the vast Darfur region, announced the formation of a parallel government in late June 2025. This move has further complicated efforts to restore order and deliver aid. The RSF has encircled el-Fasher, the only Darfur state capital not under their control, leaving an estimated 300,000 residents under siege, as reported by the United Nations and Al Jazeera. Starvation looms large over the city, which has become a symbol of both resistance and suffering in the region.
UN associate spokesperson Daniela Gross told reporters that the attack on the convoy was a serious setback to relief efforts. She emphasized that "all drivers and personnel traveling with the World Food Programme convoy are safe," but the destruction of the food supplies is a devastating blow to those in desperate need. Gift Watanasathorn, a spokesperson for the WFP, urged all parties to "respect international humanitarian law," adding, "Humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target." These pleas underscore the perilous environment in which aid workers are operating.
In the wake of the attack, the Muslim Council of Elders, led by Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, issued a strong condemnation. In a statement on August 23, 2025, the Council called the attack "a serious violation of international humanitarian law." The Council renewed its calls for an immediate ceasefire and the facilitation of humanitarian aid access to protect Sudanese civilians. "There is a critical need to ensure the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian and relief workers, adhere to the provisions of the Jeddah Declaration, secure humanitarian and relief aid corridors, and prioritize the welfare and protection of the Sudanese people from the impacts of war," the Council stated.
The United Nations Human Rights Council also weighed in, noting on August 22, 2025, that brutal attacks by the RSF on the besieged city of El Fasher and the adjacent Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons had resulted in the deaths of at least 89 civilians over a 10-day period ending on August 20. The Council warned that the actual number of civilian casualties could be significantly higher, given the chaos and lack of reliable communication in the region.
The situation is further complicated by logistical hurdles. Edem Wosornu, of the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, reported that about 70 trucks laden with food and supplies are currently stranded in the RSF-controlled city of Nyala, awaiting security guarantees before they can proceed to el-Fasher. Without these guarantees, humanitarian workers face unacceptable risks, and the people of el-Fasher remain cut off from life-saving aid.
The roots of Sudan’s catastrophe run deep. The country has long been riven by political instability, ethnic tensions, and cycles of violence. The Darfur region, in particular, has suffered from years of conflict, displacement, and neglect. Over a year ago, famine was declared in the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur, and since then, the risk of famine has spread to 17 areas across Darfur and the Kordofan region, west of Khartoum. The formation of a parallel government by the RSF and their allies has only deepened the sense of uncertainty and fear among civilians.
International actors, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have voiced alarm at the deteriorating situation and called for pauses in fighting to allow humanitarian aid through. Yet, despite these calls and the urgent appeals from the UN and humanitarian agencies, the violence continues, and the needs of the Sudanese people remain unmet.
For those on the ground, the reality is bleak. With every attack on a humanitarian convoy, hope for relief dims. The destruction of 16 trucks carrying food to famine-stricken communities is not just a logistical setback—it is a tragedy for the millions whose survival depends on such aid. As one WFP spokesperson put it, "Humanitarian staff and assets must never be a target." The world is watching, but for the people of Darfur and Sudan at large, action cannot come soon enough.
As the conflict grinds on and the humanitarian crisis deepens, the fate of millions hangs in the balance. The latest attack on the UN convoy is a stark reminder of the immense challenges facing aid workers and the urgent need for a ceasefire and safe corridors for relief. Until these are secured, the suffering in Sudan is likely to continue, and the risk of famine will only grow.
