Dire Need of Food Aid for One Million Victims in Western Sudan

World Food Programme (Rome)
PRESS RELEASE
December 18, 2003
Posted to the web December 18, 2003
Nairobi
The UN World Food Programme warned today that more than one million people are
now displaced by the conflict in Greater Darfur, western Sudan, and are in
desperate need of food assistance.
"The conflict in the Darfur States has caused enormous human suffering and
destruction of property," said Bradley Guerrant, Deputy Country Director for
Sudan. "We are facing a major humanitarian crisis which we must respond to.
These people were already poor and marginalized - now many of them are totally
destitute."
In November, WFP increased its appeal by US$39 million to assist the growing
number of displaced people over a period of five months. The twelve month
emergency operation which began in April is now valued at US$180 million, to
assist more than 3.8 million people affected by war and drought. The operation
is only 35 percent funded and the number in need keeps rising.
Hordes of newly displaced people stream daily into camps around the capital of
the three Darfur States - North, South and West. They are living in makeshift
tents and have limited humanitarian assistance. All of them recount the horror
of their houses being burned, food stocks looted and being forced to flee with
little or no possessions. Many arrive wounded or with severe burns, but medical
care in Darfur is very restricted.
Since February, the conflict has brought widespread killings, damage and
displacements throughout the region. A recent assessment carried out in South
Darfur by several humanitarian agencies established that 46 villages out of 62
had been burned to the ground, while the rest had been looted.
The conflict has also forced many farmers to leave their land, resulting in the
loss of their harvest. Many are too frightened to return to gather their crops.
Food production in the region, already severely affected in recent years by
recurrent droughts and pest infestation, is at an all time low. This year's
rains had promised a good yield, but due to insecurity, most of the crops will
be left to rot in the fields.
Historically, the Greater Darfur Region has had a relatively stable economy,
comprising agricultural production, livestock, forestry, trade and industry.
The region is now among the most vulnerable in Sudan.
"Insecurity is the main obstacle preventing us from reaching many of those
affected by this conflict, and the full extent of the crisis is not yet known,"
admitted Guerrant. "We are appealing for improved access to prevent the
situation from deteriorating any further."
The impact of the fighting in Darfur combined with limited access for aid
agencies has raised fears of a humanitarian tragedy. WFP has only been able to
assist some 280,000 of the one million displaced people.
WFP is making an urgent appeal for cash donations to allow for the purchase of
cereals available in Sudan. Despite pockets of drought and insecurity, this
season has seen a surplus production; WFP hopes to purchase a significant
quantity of locally-produced sorghum to assist people affected by war and
drought.
Since the emergency operation started in April, WFP has received contributions
from the USA (US$ 45 million), Japan (US$ 5.8 million) UK (US$ 3.4 million),
Italy (US$ 2.1 million) European Union (US$ 1.9 million), Finland (US$ 1
million), Norway (US$ 800,583), Switzerland (US$ 404,634), Ireland (US$
342,076). Given the critical resourcing situation, WFP furthermore allocated
US$ 2.1 million from its multilateral funds to this operation.

   

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