On December 18, 2024, a critical aid convoy set out from Port Sudan to Khartoum, consisting of 16 World Food Programme (WFP) trucks and 7 commercial trucks, carrying a total of 717 metric tons (MT) of food and non-food items. As of December 17, nine WFP trucks, carrying 165 MT of food, had arrived at the Atbara meeting point, where they are awaiting the arrival of the remaining trucks before continuing the journey to Khartoum. On December 18, six WFP trucks, carrying 213 MT of food, one WFP truck with non-food items, and seven commercial trucks with 338 MT of food, departed from Port Sudan. This convoy is critical for delivering life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities in Khartoum, with food and nutrition supplies for 78,000 people in south Khartoum en route.
Sudan’s peace government has accused SAF drones of striking a civilian commercial convoy carrying food and essential goods from Libya, warning that the attack threatens civilian lives, trade routes and already fragile food supplies.
In a statement late Saturday, the government of the Sudan Founding Alliance, whose Presidential Council is headed by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, condemned what it described as a drone attack on a civilian convoy travelling along the desert road from Libya.
The convoy was transporting food and basic commodities owned by Sudanese traders, the statement said, accusing the SAF, which it referred to as the “terrorist Muslim Brotherhood army militias,” of carrying out the strike.
The government said the attack caused significant human and material losses and raised serious concerns over the safety of civilians and the free movement of trade and essential supplies.
It added that the strike coincided with the killing of seven Sudanese certificate students in the Umm Qarfa area, saying both incidents reflected a systematic violation of international humanitarian law and disregard for international institutions.
“At a time when the Human Rights Council is discussing the humanitarian situation in Sudan, the Port Sudan terrorist group is committing these grave violations,” the statement said.
The peace government said targeting civilians, civilian objects or transport carrying essential goods was a criminal act that worsened the humanitarian crisis, threatened food security and deepened the suffering of civilians trapped by the war.
It said such attacks undermined efforts to reduce the impact of the conflict on ordinary Sudanese and violated the obligations imposed on all parties under international humanitarian law.
The government renewed its commitment to facilitating the movement of essential goods, securing civilian and commercial routes, and working with national, regional and international partners to reduce threats to people’s lives and livelihoods.
It called on the international community, the United Nations, the African Union and relevant regional and international bodies to condemn the attack, hold those responsible accountable under international law and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
The government also urged the UN, the African Union and humanitarian organisations to step up efforts to protect civilians, support mechanisms that ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian and commercial supplies, and strengthen respect for international humanitarian law.
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces.
The conflict has created what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, displacing around 12 million people and leaving nearly half the population struggling to access food.
