A driver working with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been killed after an airstrike struck two humanitarian trucks transporting food supplies in Sudan’s South Kordofan state.
The incident occurred early Saturday along the important road linking Dilling with Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, as the vehicles moved food assistance intended for communities affected by Sudan’s prolonged conflict.
The WFP said the trucks were clearly identified as humanitarian vehicles and were carrying relief supplies when they came under attack. The agency condemned the incident and called for an investigation into what happened.
Humanitarian Convoy Comes Under Attack
According to the WFP, the two contracted trucks were travelling along a major humanitarian supply corridor when the airstrike occurred.
One driver was killed in the attack, while the United Nations agency was still assessing the damage to the vehicles and the food cargo. Details about who carried out the strike had not been established at the time of the report.
The attack has further highlighted the dangers facing humanitarian workers attempting to deliver food and other essential assistance in Sudan.
The WFP said it was gathering additional information about the circumstances surrounding the incident and urged those responsible for attacks on humanitarian operations to be held accountable.
Ninth Attack on WFP Operations This Year
The latest incident is part of a growing pattern of attacks affecting humanitarian operations in Sudan.
The WFP said the South Kordofan strike was the ninth documented attack involving its operations in Sudan since the beginning of 2026.
A previous incident was recorded on August 30 near Dilling, when shelling reportedly destroyed about 50 metric tonnes of emergency food supplies.
Just one day before the latest airstrike, another WFP vehicle reportedly hit an explosive device near Dilling shortly after delivering emergency food rations to displaced people.
The repeated incidents have made it increasingly difficult for aid organisations to reach populations trapped in conflict-affected areas.
Thousands Depend on Food Assistance
The security challenges come as humanitarian needs across Sudan continue to grow.
In Kadugli alone, the WFP is providing assistance to approximately 58,000 people, including residents and displaced families facing emergency levels of hunger.
Access to the area has repeatedly been interrupted by fighting on the ground and attacks from the air, making the delivery of food increasingly difficult.
The wider humanitarian situation is also severe. An estimated 33.7 million people, including around 17.3 million children, are expected to require humanitarian assistance in Sudan this year.
Aid organisations have also warned that roughly 825,000 children face the risk of severe acute malnutrition.
WFP Demands Protection for Aid Workers
Following the attack, the WFP appealed to all parties involved in Sudan’s conflict to respect international humanitarian law.
The agency stressed the need to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel and infrastructure used for relief operations.
It also called for humanitarian corridors to remain accessible so that food and other emergency supplies can reach vulnerable communities without exposing aid workers to unnecessary danger.
For organisations operating in Sudan, securing access routes has become one of the biggest obstacles to delivering assistance.
Conflict Continues Across Kordofan
South Kordofan has emerged as one of the key areas affected by Sudan’s wider war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their respective allies.
The fighting has severely disrupted movement throughout the Kordofan region and affected important routes used to transport humanitarian supplies.
Aid deliveries have also been caught up in the wider conflict. On September 16, Saudi Arabia submitted a complaint to the United Nations Security Council alleging that the RSF had shelled humanitarian supplies near El Obeid in North Kordofan in August.
The allegations form part of the broader dispute between Sudan’s rival military forces, each of which has faced accusations of attacks affecting civilians and humanitarian operations.
Growing Humanitarian Pressure
The death of the WFP driver comes at a time when Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen.
Millions of people have been displaced by the war, while food shortages, hunger and limited access to essential services have placed additional pressure on communities.
For humanitarian agencies, the challenge is not only securing enough food and medicine but also ensuring that personnel and vehicles can safely reach people in need.
The latest attack underscores the risks involved in delivering aid through active conflict zones.
The WFP has reiterated that humanitarian workers and clearly marked relief vehicles must be protected under international law. It is now seeking more information about the South Kordofan strike and has called for those responsible to face accountability.
As fighting continues across Sudan, the incident is another reminder that the country’s humanitarian emergency is being worsened by the growing danger faced by the people trying to provide assistance.
