An ambush on a United Nations food aid convoy in Sudan has killed at least five people, blocking urgently needed supplies from reaching civilians facing starvation in the war-torn Darfur city of el-Fasher.

An attack on a United Nations food convoy in Sudan overnight killed five people and prevented food deliveries to children and families who face starvation in North Darfur’s al-Fashir, UN agencies said on Tuesday.

UNICEF and the World Food Programme have condemned an attack on an aid convoy in Sudan's restive Darfur region. The trucks were carrying much-needed food as two years of conflict has cut off supply.