Why are displaced families in Sudan being targeted amid worsening humanitarian crises?

Khartoum: A drone attack hit a vehicle carrying displaced families near Rahad in North Kordofan, Sudan, killing 24 people, including two infants, according to the Sudan Doctors Network on Saturday. Many others were wounded and taken to Rahad for treatment, though the area suffers from severe medical shortages.

The attack occurred a day after a World Food Program (WFP) convoy delivering food to displaced families was struck, killing one person and destroying aid supplies. Denise Brown, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, condemned the assault, saying attacks on aid operations undermine life-saving efforts.

Emergency Lawyers and the Sudan Doctors Network called the drone strike a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime. US adviser Massad Boulos and British Minister Jenny Chapman condemned the attacks, urging accountability for the perpetrators.

Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023, with fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese military leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. The country now faces the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine spreading in regions including Darfur and Kordofan.

Reports warn that acute malnutrition among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women could rise from 3.7 million in 2025 to nearly 4.2 million in 2026, while severe malnutrition could affect 800,000 people. Mohamad Abdiladif, Save the Children’s country director in Sudan, highlighted the daily struggle of families trying to keep their children alive amid hunger.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a drone strike on a vehicle transporting displaced families from the Dubeiker area in North Kordofan province. The Sudan Doctors Network confirmed that at least 24 people were killed, including eight children, with two infants among them. Many survivors were rushed to Rahad for medical care, but shortages of medicines and supplies hamper treatment.

The attack follows a Friday strike on a WFP aid convoy heading to Obeid, North Kordofan, which killed one person and destroyed essential food supplies. UN humanitarian officials, including Denise Brown, condemned the assaults on civilians and aid workers.

The RSF has been fighting the Sudanese military for control of Sudan for nearly three years, with widespread displacement and death. The UN estimates over 40,000 deaths, though the real figure is likely much higher, while more than 14 million people have been forced from their homes.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) recently reported worsening famine in Sudan, projecting acute malnutrition to rise by 13.5% in 2026. Severe malnutrition is expected to affect 800,000 people. Aid organizations warn that without immediate intervention, children and vulnerable populations will continue to die from hunger-related causes.

Mohamad Abdiladif of Save the Children emphasized that families are being forced to sell their last possessions to feed their children, underscoring the urgent need for international humanitarian assistance.