THE head of the Rome-based United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said yesterday the organisation would temporarily halt its humanitarian activities in Sudan, a day after three employees were killed in the country.

WFP executive director Cindy McCain said she is “appalled and heartbroken” over the deaths, which took place in Kabkabiya in North Darfur state.

In a statement, McCain confirmed reports the workers were killed “while carrying out their life-saving duties on the front lines of the global hunger crisis”. She said two other WFP workers were injured in the same attack.

The deceased were all Sudan nationals, said media reports.

In a separate incident on Saturday, an aircraft belonging to WFP’s Humanitarian Air Service was seriously damaged at Khartoum International Airport, WFP said.

“Any loss of life in humanitarian service is unacceptable and I demand immediate steps to guarantee the safety of those who remain,” McCain said.

“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.”

McCain said WFP would temporarily halt all its activities in Sudan while reviewing the situation in the war-torn country, reported Xinhua.

“WFP is committed to assisting the Sudanese people who are facing dire food insecurity,” McCain said. “But we cannot do our lifesaving work if the safety and security of our teams and partners is not guaranteed.”

Violent clashes erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum and other cities, where the two sides traded accusations of initiating the conflict.

Sudan’s Central Doctors’ Committee said at least 56 civilians were killed while 595 more have been injured, among them soldiers who are in critical condition.

UN secretary-general António Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the outbreak of fighting between the two forces, said his spokesman, and called on the two sides to immediately cease hostilities. – Bernama, April 17, 2023.