Al-Junaynah, September 02 (Darfur24)
The World Food Programme (WFP) condemned an air attack on two of its trucks outside Dilling, South Kordofan State, on August 30, which destroyed more than 50 metric tons of food aid.
The trucks were traveling to Kadugli and were clearly marked with WFP logos and flags, the agency said. The destroyed supplies were enough to provide life-saving assistance to about 5,800 people for a month.
WFP said the attack was the eighth similar incident affecting its facilities and operations in Sudan since the beginning of the year, disrupting humanitarian activities and further complicating aid deliveries.
The agency called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, aid workers and humanitarian assets.
“Attacks on aid workers and humanitarian operations are unacceptable and must stop,” WFP said, warning that continued attacks are obstructing food deliveries to vulnerable communities.
South Kordofan is facing worsening humanitarian conditions amid ongoing fighting and restricted humanitarian access. WFP said it is providing food assistance to about 58,000 people in Kadugli who are facing emergency levels of food insecurity or worse.
The Emergency Lawyers group called for an immediate independent investigation into the attack, describing the targeting of clearly marked humanitarian trucks as a serious threat to humanitarian operations and civilians.
The group also warned that restrictions on humanitarian access and attempts to use food aid as a tool of war could, where legal elements are established, amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
It urged the international community to increase assistance and ensure unhindered humanitarian access as food insecurity worsens amid declining agricultural and livestock production and reduced rainfall.