The World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed heartbroken to the tragic deaths of three employees on Saturday 15 April in violence that occurred in North Darfur, Sudan while carrying out their life saving duties on the front lines of the global hunger crisis.
In a statement attributed to the WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain on Sunday over the outbreak of fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces in the country, as two WFP employees were also injured in the same incident.
McCain who said WFP has informed the families of these dedicated team members and stand with them and the entire WFP family at this time of catastrophe, adding that any loss of life in humanitarian service is unacceptable.
She demanded immediate steps to guarantee the safety of those who remain. “Aid workers are neutral and should never be a target. Threats to our teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and carry out WFP’s critical work.
The ED revealed that in a separate incident, one WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) aircraft also significantly damaged at Khartoum International airport during an exchange of gunfire on 15 April, seriously impacting WFP’s ability to move humanitarian workers and aid within the country.
While reviewing the evolving security situation, WFP Boss said the Agency is forced to temporarily halt all operations in Sudan.
“WFP is committed to assisting the Sudanese people facing dire food insecurity, but we cannot do our lifesaving work if the safety and security of our teams and partners is not guaranteed.
“All parties must come to an agreement that ensures the safety of humanitarian workers on the ground and enables the continued delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan.They remain our top priority”, she said.
It was reported that the fight outbreak between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has reached many parts of the capital Khartoum and other areas outside the capital, on Saturday morning.
According to media reports, the RSF claimed that it had taken control of Khartoum international airport, Merowe airport, al-Obeid airport and the presidential palace.
The RSF, an independent Sudanese military force, grew out of the Janjaweed militia, formerly active in the Darfur region of the country.
The organization has been involved in talks aimed at a transition from the current military rule, which has existed since a coup in 2021, to a civilian government.
The integration of the RSF into the armed forces has been one of the issues under discussion, as part of UN-backed political agreement reached in February, following months of negotiations.