RSF Attacks UN Aid Convoy In Sudan, Killing One And Injuring Two

A humanitarian aid convoy travelling towards Kadugli in South Kordofan was attacked in Dilling, killing one person and injuring two truck drivers, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The convoy was carrying life-saving assistance for more than 5,000 civilians facing severe shortages. The incident comes as Sudan's war enters its fourth year, with the UN reporting more than 1,100 civilian deaths from drone attacks between January and June 2026 and millions of people still dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of attacking a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy in South Kordofan, killing one person and injuring two others.
The Sudan Doctors Network said the convoy came under attack in the town of Dilling while travelling towards Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan.
One person was killed while two truck drivers were wounded, according to the medical group.
The convoy was carrying life-saving humanitarian supplies intended for more than 5,000 civilians facing severe shortages of food, medicine and other essential necessities.
The attack threatens an already difficult effort to deliver aid to communities trapped by fighting.

AID DELIVERY BECOMES INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS

The Sudan Doctors Network condemned the attack and described it as part of what it called a recurring pattern of attacks against humanitarian convoys and obstruction of assistance to civilians.
It said attacks on humanitarian workers and supplies violate international humanitarian law and called on the United Nations, international organisations and governments to ensure that aid can reach civilians safely and without obstruction.
The group also called for pressure on RSF leaders to stop attacks against humanitarian personnel and for those responsible to be held accountable.
The RSF has previously denied accusations of abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.

KORDOFAN HAS BECOME A MAJOR BATTLEFIELD

South Kordofan has become increasingly important in Sudan’s war because of its strategic location and the presence of major routes linking different parts of the country.
The wider Kordofan region has experienced heavy fighting and increasingly frequent drone attacks as both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces battle for territory and supply routes.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that the fighting around Kordofan is threatening civilians and humanitarian operations.
In June, the UN Secretary-General said humanitarian organisations were continuing to provide assistance in Kordofan despite deteriorating security conditions and stressed that humanitarian workers and supplies must be protected.

DRONE WARFARE IS KILLING CIVILIANS

The convoy attack comes as Sudan experiences a dramatic escalation in the use of drones.
The UN Human Rights Office reported that around 1,400 civilians were killed between January and June 2026, including about 1,100 people killed in drone attacks.
The UN has warned that both sides are using drones to strike civilian areas and infrastructure.
A UN assessment released in June said more than 1,000 civilians had been killed by drone strikes between January and May alone. It documented attacks on hospitals, markets and other civilian infrastructure across Sudan.
A new UN fact-finding report has also warned that foreign support and the growing use of drones are helping to intensify the conflict, with attacks affecting hospitals, schools and markets.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE NEED HELP

Sudan is now facing one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies.
The war has forced millions of people from their homes while destroying health facilities, disrupting food supplies and leaving communities without reliable access to water and other basic services.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 34 million people require humanitarian assistance in 2026, while millions face severe food insecurity and malnutrition.
The displacement crisis has also reached unprecedented levels. UN agencies have reported that roughly 13 to 15 million people have been displaced, depending on the reporting period and methodology used.

THE HUMANITARIAN SYSTEM IS UNDER PRESSURE

Aid agencies are struggling to keep up with the scale of the emergency.
Fighting, insecurity, damaged roads and infrastructure, displacement and funding shortages all make it difficult to deliver assistance to people who need it.
UNICEF reported in August that 33.7 million people required humanitarian assistance in Sudan, including 17.3 million children. It also said that its humanitarian response remained seriously underfunded.
Every attack on an aid convoy therefore has consequences beyond the immediate casualties.
When trucks cannot safely reach their destinations, civilians may go without food, medicine, clean water and other supplies for days or even weeks.

A WAR THAT HAS LASTED MORE THAN THREE YEARS

Sudan's conflict began in April 2023 after a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF erupted into full-scale war.
The fighting has since spread across large parts of the country.
Both sides have been accused of serious violations against civilians, including indiscriminate attacks, killings, sexual violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
The conflict has also destroyed much of Sudan's healthcare system. WHO reported that hundreds of attacks on healthcare had already killed health workers, patients and others since the war began.

CIVILIANS REMAIN TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FIGHTING

For people in South Kordofan, the arrival of an aid convoy can mean the difference between receiving essential medicine and going without it.
But the latest attack demonstrates the danger facing not only civilians but also the workers responsible for delivering assistance.
The killing of a convoy worker and the injuries suffered by two drivers could further discourage humanitarian organisations from using some of the most dangerous routes.
That could leave already isolated communities even more vulnerable.

INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE GROWS

The latest attack is likely to increase pressure on the warring parties to protect humanitarian workers and allow aid to move freely.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for an immediate end to the fighting and for humanitarian access to be safe, sustained and unhindered.
But despite diplomatic efforts, the conflict continues to intensify in several parts of the country.
The growing reliance on drones has made the war even more dangerous for civilians because attacks can reach areas far from traditional front lines.

THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL CONTINUES

For millions of Sudanese civilians, the war is no longer simply a battle for territory between two armed groups.
It has become a daily struggle for food, medicine, shelter and safety.
The attack on the aid convoy illustrates the consequences of a conflict in which humanitarian routes themselves have become dangerous.
As fighting continues, the ability of aid organisations to reach vulnerable communities may become just as important as the military contest between the RSF and Sudanese army.