UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday deplored Monday's attack on a commercial convoy in Burkina Faso, said his spokesman.

The secretary-general deplores the attack on the commercial convoy, escorted by the national armed forces and transporting essential commodities, to the town of Djibo in Burkina Faso, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The attack took place on Monday near Gaskinde, in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso.

Guterres expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people of Burkina Faso. He wished a speedy recovery to those injured, said the statement.

"The secretary-general calls on the Burkinabe authorities to spare no effort in identifying and bringing the perpetrators of this heinous attack to justice and calls on all parties to ensure that civilians are spared from the consequences of the conflict," it said.

The secretary-general reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue to work with Burkina Faso and international partners to enhance the protection of civilians, address humanitarian challenges, and promote lasting peace and prosperity with respect for human rights, said the statement.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Wednesday that Burkina Faso continues to face a humanitarian crisis, with nearly one-fifth of its population urgently in need of aid.

Humanitarian needs remain significant, in particular in the Sahel, East, North-Central, and North regions. There are gaps in the provision of food, shelter and essential household items, as well as water, hygiene and sanitation, said OCHA.

As of June 2022, more than 1.5 million people are displaced in the country as a consequence of the increasing insecurity in the country. Nearly half of the displaced people are children, it said.

The 2022 humanitarian response plan for Burkina Faso seeks 805 million U.S. dollars to help 3.8 million of the most vulnerable people. The plan is only 30 percent funded, said OCHA.