KHARTOUM – The World Food Programme (WFP) condemned an airstrike that hit two trucks carrying food aid outside Dilling in South Kordofan, saying the attack destroyed supplies intended to feed about 5,800 people for one month.

WFP said in a statement on Tuesday that the strike took place on August 30 as the trucks were travelling to Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan. The agency said the vehicles were clearly marked with WFP signs and flags.

The strike destroyed more than 50 metric tonnes of food, including cereals, yellow peas, vegetable oil and salt, the agency said.

WFP said the destroyed supplies were enough to provide life-saving assistance to about 5,800 people for a month, at a time when humanitarian needs are rising across South Kordofan because of conflict, displacement and severe food insecurity.

The agency currently provides direct food assistance in Kadugli to about 58,000 people facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse.

The incident comes amid escalating insecurity in South Kordofan, where civilians, markets, roads and aid routes have increasingly come under threat. In recent days, local and medical groups have reported drone and military attacks around Dilling, Kauda, Heiban and other areas, raising concern over civilian protection and humanitarian access.

Sudan’s war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has severely disrupted aid operations across the country. Humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that insecurity, damaged roads, access restrictions and attacks on convoys are preventing assistance from reaching people in urgent need.

WFP described the attack as the latest example of the complex and dangerous conditions facing aid agencies and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan.

The agency said eight airstrikes since the start of the year had damaged its facilities and disrupted humanitarian operations.

WFP called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, aid workers, humanitarian assets and relief supplies.

It said attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop immediately.