WFP Says Sudan Aid Operations Unaffected by Khartoum Airport Drone Strike

Lead

A drone attack struck Khartoum Airport and its surroundings on Monday, marking the first such assault on the facility since October, according to Radio Dabanga reports carried by AllAfrica. The attack coincided with the arrival of a civilian passenger plane from Cairo — the first in three years — and prompted the suspension of many flights. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that its humanitarian operations in Sudan remain unaffected and that all staff are accounted for.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports, both sourced from Radio Dabanga and published by AllAfrica, provide nearly identical accounts of the incident. Both emphasize that the drone attack, presumably launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted the airport and its environs and that WFP operations were not impacted. The reports differ slightly in detail: one notes that the attack was the first on the airport since last October and describes the arrival of the Badr Airlines passenger plane, while the other adds that witnesses saw plumes of smoke and mentions additional strikes on nearby areas, including Obeid Khatim Street, areas south of Khartoum, and the El Murkhiyat military base in Omdurman.

Key Claims

• The drone attack on Khartoum Airport and surrounding areas was the first since October, as reported by both sources.
• The main terminal was not hit, according to initial reports cited by one source, which also quotes an airport worker saying the terminal was safe.
• The attack coincided with the landing of a Badr Airlines passenger plane from Cairo, carrying civilians, for the first time in three years, as detailed in one report.
• WFP operations were not affected by the attack, and all staff are accounted for, as confirmed by a WFP spokesperson in both reports.
• The United Nations expressed grave concern over escalating drone attacks endangering civilians, per a statement from UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Perspectives

Humanitarian Operations

The WFP’s quick reassurance underscores the critical importance of Khartoum Airport as a lifeline for aid delivery. The UN noted that the airport is a vital artery for humanitarian supplies, and the downing of a drone there led to flight cancellations, raising concerns about disruptions to aid flow.

Security and Regional Tensions

While the reports attribute the attack to the RSF, initial allegations suggesting the drones may have been launched from Ethiopian territory remain unconfirmed and are carried by only one source. This aspect introduces regional dimensions to the conflict, though it requires further verification.

Civilian Impact

The timing of the attack — coinciding with the first civilian flight from Cairo in three years — highlights the fragile resumption of normal life in Sudan. The UN’s expression of concern over drone attacks endangering civilians reflects broader worries about the safety of non-combatants amid ongoing hostilities.