WFP halts operations in Sudan after the death of 3 staff members
The World Food Programme (WFP) has decided to temporarily suspend its operations in Sudan after three of its staff were killed in violence in North Darfur on Saturday, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said today.
"While we review the evolving security situation, we are compelled to temporarily halt all operations in Sudan," she said in a statement, after at least 56 civilians were killed and hundreds injured in clashes between the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army in recent hours.
World Food Programme has confirmed that 3 employees have been killed in North Darfur, Sudan amid ongoing conflict between army & the RSF paramilitary group- Two employees injured.
— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) April 16, 2023
A humanitarian air services aircraft was also significantly damaged at Khartoum Intl Airport. pic.twitter.com/4enYDORyxd
McCain said she was "shocked and heartbroken by the tragic deaths of three WFP staff members on Saturday 15 April in violence in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, as they went about their life-saving work on the front lines of the global hunger crisis," in an incident in which two other workers were injured.
"We have informed the families of these dedicated team members and we stand in solidarity with them and our entire WFP family at this time of catastrophe," he added.
McCain demanded "immediate action to ensure the safety of those who remain", insisting that "any loss of life in humanitarian service is unacceptable".
Clashes in #Sudan spread into Darfur region, where the RSF established years ago by Bashir regime to oppress a revolt pic.twitter.com/jxzDUxOe8P
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) April 15, 2023
"Humanitarian workers are neutral and should never be targeted. Threats to our teams make it impossible to operate safely and effectively in the country and to carry out WFP's critical work.
The fighting erupted on Saturday when, after weeks of tension, FAR accused the Sudanese army of launching an action against one of its bases in Khartoum, while the armed forces claimed it was in response to an attack FAR had previously carried out in the Sudanese capital.
"In a separate incident, a WFP-managed United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) aircraft also suffered significant damage at Khartoum International Airport during an exchange of fire on 15 April, severely affecting WFP's ability to move aid workers and aid within the country," McCain added in the note.
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Rebels have captured Al-Shaheed Sebera Airport in West #Darfur. As you can see here, they have also captured a UN WFP's Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter with UNO-613H registration code. pic.twitter.com/AI5wJ2kOFC
— Babak Taghvaee - The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) April 16, 2023
WFP "is committed to helping the Sudanese people facing severe food insecurity, but we cannot carry out our life-saving work unless the safety of our teams and partners is guaranteed," he said.
And he urged "all parties must reach an agreement that ensures the safety of humanitarian workers on the ground and allows us to continue to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan. They remain our top priority.
A friend in Khartoum sent this, recorded a little earlier. Gives a sense of the clashes and how terrifying it must be right now. #Sudan pic.twitter.com/42sI6N5avf
— James Copnall (@JamesCopnall) April 15, 2023
The Sudan Central Committee of Doctors reported today that, in addition to the 56 civilian deaths, there are a total of 595 wounded, including among the ranks of the military, and of whom "dozens" are in critical condition.
The association warned that these figures were counted inside hospitals and health centres, so they could rise considerably as there are victims affected in isolated regions of Sudan to which the Doctors' Committee does not have access.
