UN says food aid reaches Darfurians despite violence

Food rations reached more than 158, 000 people last month in Sudan's Darfur region who have been cut off in recent months despite increased violence in the strife-torn region, the UN World Food Program (WFP) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, WFP said the number of people not reached by food aid has been dropping steadily from 470,000 in July to 355, 000 in August and now 224,000.

"Despite the difficult security situation, the WFP and our partners in non-governmental organizations (NGOs were able to take advantage of windows of opportunity to deliver long-awaited food aid to parts of north Darfur. We are working hard to reach those who remain cut off," said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Representative in Sudan.

The UN agency said although some areas of Darfur are still inaccessible, it successfully distributed food aid to a total of three million conflict-affected people in Darfur in September.

Figures released by WFP show that the improvement in reaching beneficiaries is thanks to the strong cooperation among the humanitarian aid community to negotiate access and organize delivery.

"WFP food aid was distributed in parts of Darfur previously cut off by fighting and banditry. Those who were newly reached last month live in the northernmost part of Darfur who were given a double ration to cover the months of September and October."

"The situation is especially serious because we are in the annual 'hunger season' just before the harvest, when there is very little food available," Oshidari said. "In a volatile situation, food aid is vital to stability."

The WFP said the harvest is expected to begin soon, so food availability in communities should improve. "However the persistent insecurity means that some people if they were lucky enough to have planted at all may be prevented from harvesting their crops," it said.

The UN agency said the situation across the troubled region remains precarious after recent carjacking and harassment of drivers of trucks carrying supplies increased last month, hampering the operations of many national and international NGOs and UN agencies.

"WFP calls upon all parties to the conflict to recognize the vital work of humanitarians to provide food, water, health and other urgently-needed services to the civilian population," Oshidari said.

WFP and other aid groups have been warning that the Darfur region was reaching a critical state.

Mounting instability in many parts of the region has made it more difficult for aid workers to reach more than three million people who need international aid.

At least 12 humanitarian workers have been killed in Darfur since May, more than the total number since the conflict began in early 2003.

Source: Xinhua