U.S. Contribution Helps WFP Feed Newly Displaced & Other Vulnerable People In Sudan

WFP will use the contribution to buy cereals from markets in Gedaref and other areas for distribution to more than 240,000 displaced people in Darfur and another 12,000 in South Kordofan state.  The contribution will also be used to support WFP’s cash and vouchers programme in Darfur and in North Kordofan for around 150,000 displaced people.

 “This new cash contribution from the American people is part of the U.S. Government’s long-standing support for the most vulnerable populations in Sudan, such as those newly displaced in Darfur and North and South Kordofan during 2013. USAID remains committed to providing assistance to the most affected populations when and where they can be accessed,” said USAID/Sudan Mission Director Larry Meserve.

In 2013, the United States has contributed a total of US$168 million, making it the single largest donor to WFP Sudan, covering approximately 42 percent of the organization’s operations in the country.  

“We are very grateful for this contribution, which gives us greater flexibility to respond to the needs of the people we assist and enables us to support local markets through our purchase of cereals,” said WFP Country Director Adnan Khan.  

This year marks the 50th year of WFP’s work in Sudan, which began in 1963 when the organization provided food assistance to 50,000 Nubians re-settled from the rising waters of Lake Nasser caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam in neighbouring Egypt.  For four years, WFP provided the Nubians with food assistance including wheat from the United States.  

“The United States has stood alongside us through five decades of assisting the vulnerable people in Sudan—from the early years of helping the Nubians to re-settle and rebuild their livelihoods, up until the last 10 years, when they have helped us provide life-saving food assistance to displaced people across Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan,” said Khan.  

Sudan remains one of WFP’s largest and most complex operations.  In 2013, WFP plans to reach 3.9 million people across Sudan, 2.9 million of whom are in Darfur.  Since January this year, the nature of the 10-year conflict in Darfur has changed, with inter- and intra-tribal clashes intensifying, causing the displacement of more than 300,000 people in the region and creating a further demand on WFP.   The USAID contribution will enable WFP to provide a timely response to these new needs.  

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  Each year, on average, WFP feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Amor Almagro, WFP/Khartoum , Tel. +249 912174853

Abdulaziz  Abdulmomin, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 912167055