El-Fasher:The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia has detained 32 trucks filled with humanitarian aid from the World Food Programme in El-Fasher, North Darfur, disrupting efforts to support war-affected families in the region.
According to Sudan News Agency, the incident began when a convoy of 60 trucks, carrying food supplies, entered through the Al-Tina border crossing last week. The aid was meant for localities including Kabkabiya, Al-Sereif, Kutum, Tina, Kornoy, Om Baru, and Mellit, as well as the areas of Al-Sayah and Sortony.
The Director of Social Welfare and Humanitarian Aid Coordinator of the Darfur Regional Government, Engineer Abdel-Bagi Mohamed Hamid, reported that 16 trucks had already reached Mellit and Al-Sayah when the RSF intercepted the remaining 44 trucks in the Kutum locality, taking them to El-Fasher. Three days after their detention, 12 trucks were released, but 32 remain held, with the militia demanding large sums of money for their release. This conduct has been described as piracy, extortion, and blackmail.
Engineer Abdel-Bagi emphasized the urgent need for the aid, which was intended for displaced families at risk of famine. He characterized the detention as a war crime aimed at starving civilians and obstructing humanitarian operations. He also reaffirmed the regional government's commitment to facilitating humanitarian efforts and urged the international community and the United Nations to denounce the RSF's actions and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained trucks.
The detention of the trucks coincides with warnings from UN organizations about a worsening food crisis in Darfur, where over 60 percent of the population depends on humanitarian aid. The obstruction of relief efforts poses a direct threat to thousands and violates international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.