World Food Programme: Progress in Delivering Food Aid to Darfur from Chad
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The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that new aid trucks have reached Darfur through the Adré border crossing in Chad as of last Tuesday, noting recent progress in securing food aid via the Chadian corridor.
In a statement released on Thursday, the WFP stated, "WFP trucks carrying more than 630 metric tons of food, sufficient for around 55,000 people, have crossed into the Darfur region. The latest shipment crossed on Tuesday, August 27th."
The food aid is designated for the Kereneik and Sirba regions, which are at risk of famine in West Darfur. Some supplies have already arrived in the town of Murnei in Kereneik, while other convoys are still en route. However, the statement noted that the progress of the convoys has been slowed by destroyed bridges, as well as flooded and muddy roads in poor condition.
Additionally, trucks carrying 1,134 metric tons of food, enough for about 280,000 people, crossed from Chad into the Darfur region of Sudan through the Tina border crossing on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The WFP stated that aid distributions will commence as soon as possible in various locations across Darfur for communities facing famine or at risk of sliding into famine.
The relief efforts also include cash assistance for families across Darfur. The statement mentioned that the first cash transfers have begun in Ardamata and Riyadh in El Geneina, West Darfur, while cash distributions are set to start soon in Kulbus, West Darfur, and Zalingei, Central Darfur. A total of 300,000 people will receive cash assistance from the WFP in these locations.
The WFP confirmed that it is working to deliver food to half a million people through the Adré border crossing to various parts of Darfur as quickly as possible.
In Khartoum, the WFP announced that cash assistance distributions will begin next week in two areas at risk of famine in the capital, while ongoing nutritional support continues in Karari, Omdurman, and Umbada.
