**Attack on U.N. Aid Convoy in Sudan Results in Five Deaths**

In a tragic incident, five members of a United Nations convoy carrying essential humanitarian supplies were killed during an attack in southwestern Sudan. The attack left several other aid workers injured and resulted in the destruction of numerous trucks, the U.N. reported this week.

The convoy, comprising 15 trucks from the World Food Program and UNICEF, was halted in a North Darfur market town, El Koma, late Monday night, after a strenuous 1,100-mile journey from Port Sudan. This delivery was set to be the first aid convoy to reach El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, in over a year, aiming to bring much-needed relief to roughly 100,000 residents.

El Fasher, currently the last major city in the Darfur region under the control of the Sudanese Army, has been embroiled in conflict for two years. It has recently faced increased offensives from the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who dominate much of western and southern Sudan.

Despite prior coordination and sharing details of the convoy’s route with local forces, the convoy was violently attacked, severely damaging humanitarian supplies. "Many of our trucks were burned in the attack," the U.N. stated, emphasizing the severe impact on their ability to deliver aid.

This incident highlights the immense challenges faced by aid organizations in delivering critical supplies to war-torn regions. Notably, the attack worsened an already dire situation for civilians in El Fasher, who are on the brink of famine amidst a conflict that has displaced over 13 million people.

In a separate act of violence, the Rapid Support Forces recently shelled a World Food Program warehouse in El Fasher, a move protested by the United Nations. Additionally, an airstrike by Sudanese armed forces on El Koma, a known R.S.F. stronghold, resulted in significant casualties, according to local reports.

Despite the attack, UNICEF confirmed that its two trucks in the convoy, which carried nutritional supplies for malnourished children and health and water treatment items, remained undamaged. "The plan is to move them elsewhere," stated Eva Hinds, UNICEF’s spokeswoman in Port Sudan, stressing their commitment to continue their mission. "This has just cemented our resolve to stay and deliver. We are not leaving."