The United States and WFP welcome a Second Ship Carrying Critical Food Commodities for Sudan

...The food commodities will be used to assist more than 2 million vulnerable people across the countryPORT SUDAN, Sudan, October 18 --

In support of its operations in Sudan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), today welcomed the arrival of over 50,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities including sorghum, lentils and vegetable oil from the American people.

The food commodities will be used to assist more than 2 million vulnerable people across the country. These include 200,000 South Sudanese refugees for three months, over 725,000 internally displaced people in all of Darfur’s five states for four months, 900,000 school children for six months, and more than half a million people who have been affected by the lean season which lasts from April to October each year.

U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Ervin Massinga and USAID Sudan Mission Director Dr. Jeffrey Ashley joined WFP Sudan Country Director and Representative Matthew Hollingworth in Port Sudan to welcome the arrival of the U.S. ship. In May this year, WFP welcomed the arrival of a shipment of 47,000 metric tons of sorghum ‒ also donated by USAID ‒ that was used to cover the needs of South Sudanese refugees and internally displaced people in Darfur.

In 2016, WFP plans to assist 4.6 million vulnerable people in Sudan through a number of different activities

“The United States through our strong implementing partner, WFP, continues to provide critical food assistance in a timely manner to areas that face severe food insecurity and malnutrition due to conflict and drought. The United States remains committed to fighting hunger and malnutrition and urges all parties to allow unfettered humanitarian access so as to end unnecessary suffering,” said Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Massinga.

Since 2011, the United States has been a long-standing partner and the largest single donor to WFP in Sudan contributing over USD 900 million to WFP’s operations in the country. Its generous contributions have enabled WFP to provide assistance to all those in need across a range of activities implemented through general food distribution, school feeding, nutrition and food-for-assets programmes.

“I am very pleased to be here in Port Sudan and to welcome this ship carrying food for the people we serve across Sudan,” said Hollingworth. “WFP is grateful for the continued support from the U.S. Government and people which helps us provide much-needed assistance to vulnerable families in the country.”

In 2016, WFP plans to assist 4.6 million vulnerable people in Sudan through a number of different activities, including emergency food and cash-based transfers, nutritional support and resilience-building activities to help communities become self-reliant.

SOURCE: World Food Programme