The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed on Tuesday that five aid workers were killed and several others injured in an attack on a joint humanitarian convoy en route to the besieged city of El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur region.

In a joint statement, the agencies said the convoy was targeted near the town of Al-Kuma, resulting in the deaths of five humanitarian staff members and injuries to others. Several vehicles were burned, and a portion of the humanitarian supplies was damaged.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by this attack on humanitarian personnel,” the statement read. “Such incidents severely undermine the ability of aid organizations to deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflict.”

The attack comes amid worsening security conditions in Darfur, where ongoing fighting continues to block humanitarian access and exacerbate the region’s growing humanitarian crisis. UNICEF and WFP have called for the protection of humanitarian workers and unimpeded access to those in need.