Angola food trucks ambushed

The WFP lost 50 tonnes of aid in the attack (Photo: WFP)

A driver has been killed and 50 tonnes of food aid stolen in a raid on a United Nations convoy in Angola.

About 300 armed men ambushed the convoy, which was taking food to a settlement housing 30,000 refugees in southern Angola.

Soldiers opened fire from both sides of the road

UN source

Witnesses blamed the attack on fighters from the Unita rebel group.

"Soldiers opened fire from both sides of the road as the four trucks were going up an incline," a UN source told Reuters news agency.

A second driver was injured in the attack.

Notorious area

The supplies, comprising maize, beans, salt and cooking oil, were stolen from the first three trucks.

The driver of the fourth vehicle, which was a short distance behind the others, managed to flee the scene of the attack, and returned later to pick up the survivors.

The injured had to wait 30 hours before they reached a hospital.

The attack took place in an area said to be notorious for rebel activity.