US Contribution Helps WFP Sudan Feed Vulnerable People During The Hunger Season
KHARTOUM – The United Nations World Food Programme today welcomed a United States Government contribution of lentils, sorghum and oil fortified with vitamin A which will be used to assist close to four million vulnerable people across the country including over 1.4 million displaced people in Darfur.
“This contribution could not have come at a better time as we are in the thick of the lean season and this puts us in a better position to feed all those in need of food assistance including an additional 250,000 people who have been displaced by an escalation of conflict in parts of Darfur in recent months,” said WFP Sudan Country Director Adnan Khan.
In addition to the conflict-affected and vulnerable people of Darfur, the US contribution, worth US$43 million, will be used to feed people displaced by the on-going conflict in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, where WFP has access to government-held areas.
“We are very pleased with our partnership with WFP which enables us to assist all those in need of food assistance, especially in Darfur which has been afflicted by a new wave of violence in recent months,” said USAID Sudan Mission Director Barry Primm.
Conflict remains a key issue which could threaten the fragile food security situation in Sudan.
At the beginning of 2013, WFP planned to reach 3.6 million vulnerable people across Sudan with 2.7 million of them living in Darfur. But the recent spate of violence and fighting in parts of Darfur, Blue Nile, South Kordofan and North Kordofan states may add another 250,000 people in need for assistance in Darfur alone.
“We are deeply concerned about the on-going conflict in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states which creates greater humanitarian need and hampers our ability to reach all those in need of assistance. It could also derail our plan to promote long-term food security and resilience among communities,” said Khan.
The US is the single largest donor to WFP Sudan and also ranks as the overall top donor to WFP, providing crucial support to WFP’s operations in more than 70 countries around the world.
___________________________________________
For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Amor Almagro, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 912 174853
Abdulaziz Abdulmomin WFP/Khartoum + 249 912 167055
Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Tel. +20225281730
Reem Nada, WFP/Cairo, Tel. +20225281730
