UN suspends aid flights to Port Sudan after drone attacks near airport

May 5, 2025 (UNITED NATIONS) – The United Nations expressed concern on Monday over reported drone attacks near the airport in Port Sudan, Sudan’s main aid hub, suspending humanitarian flights there and warning the strikes threatened civilians in a previously spared area of the country.

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, briefing reporters, attributed the recent attacks near Port Sudan, reportedly targeting military and civilian infrastructure, to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He described them as the latest in retaliatory strikes by the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces targeting airports in each other’s territory.

“The attack on Port Sudan is a worrying development threatening the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations in an area so far spared from experiencing the devastating conflict,” Haq stated, relaying concerns from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

While UN humanitarian offices and warehouses in Port Sudan were not hit and regular aid operations continued, the UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) temporarily suspended flights to and from the Red Sea city, Haq said.

The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) was assessing the situation, including the impact on its ability to move supplies and personnel into and out of Sudan, he added.

Secretary-General Guterres renewed his call for “urgent dialogue between the warring parties towards an immediate cessation of hostilities and an inclusive political process,” Haq reported.

He noted these were the latest in a series of recent drone attacks hitting airports and other civilian infrastructure, including power stations, which caused major electricity and water supply disruptions elsewhere in Sudan.

The UN called on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, emphasizing that “international humanitarian law must be respected,” Haq concluded.