An air strike on United Nations trucks in Sudan’s South Kordofan has resulted in the death of a driver, as reported by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP stated in a press release on Sunday that the trucks, which were transporting food aid, were "clearly marked as humanitarian vehicles" when they were attacked. The agency did not specify who was responsible for the strike.
The incident occurred on Saturday while the convoy was traveling between two cities controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in South Kordofan state. Fighting in the Kordofan region has intensified since late 2025, making it a strategic battleground between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two factions have been engaged in a civil war for control of Sudan for over three years.
The WFP is currently assessing the extent of the damage and gathering additional details regarding the attack on its aid trucks. The agency has called for an investigation into the incident.
The WFP's statement highlighted the increasingly challenging security environment in Sudan and the risks faced by aid workers delivering essential assistance to communities in need. Since the conflict began in April 2023, approximately one in five attacks in Sudan has occurred in the Kordofan region. The SAF has gained ground in the north, while the RSF retains control over much of the west, with South Kordofan remaining contested.
Both the SAF and RSF have increasingly utilized drones in their conflict, leading to more frequent and deadly attacks on towns in North Kordofan, as well as assaults on civilian infrastructure throughout the region. The ongoing civil war has displaced 14 million people, contributing to one of the worst food crises in modern history and resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.
According to an Integrated Food Security Phase Classification assessment, nearly 19.5 million people, or about 41 percent of Sudan’s population, were experiencing acute food crises between February and May. More than five million individuals faced extreme, life-threatening food shortages, with 135,000 at risk of famine.