US food shipment arrives in Sudan
May 26, 2015 (PORT SUDAN) – A food shipment from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) arrived in Port Sudan on Tuesday for distribution among the needy population in various parts of the country.
The US charge d’affaires in Sudan Jerry Lanier, accompanied by officials from the embassy and WFP, witnessed the unloading of the cargo after conveying his thanks to the governor of Red Sea state Mohammed Tahir Aila for facilitating the reception and distribution of this shipment to fight hunger.
“The shipment amounting to 47,500 tons of sorghum is sent by the American people to the Sudanese people,” Lanier said of the cargo valued at $53 million that represents the first batch of USAID pledge to WFP 2015 operations in Sudan.
The US diplomat underscored that his country is committed to helping those in need in Sudan as it always has since the 60’s, adding that the shipment will help WFP provide food for about 1.8 million displaced people in Darfur for 3 months and will also help 500,000 Darfuri students for 6 months along with 226,000 children in central and eastern Sudan.
“I am happy that in this day we received ship Liberty Grace which is based in New York but the shipment came from Galveston, Texas” he said.
Today’s contribution from USAID follows another one in 2014 comprised of 68,440 tons of sorghum, 8,730 tons of lentils and 1,320 tons of vegetable oil.
“American people are committed to fighting hunger and malnutrition and will continue to be the biggest supporters of the Sudanese people,” the US diplomat said.
“We hope that the fighting stops soon so there is no need for food aid in Sudan,” he added.
The United States has contributed more than $195 million in 2014 to WFP.
For her part, the deputy WFP country Director in Sudan Margot VanderVelden noted that the US provided approximately $626 million to Sudan since the secession of the south in 2011.
She said that the aid shipment will be distributed to those affected by the conflict in Darfur and South Sudan.
VanderVelden stressed that if it wasn’t for USAID generous assistance, they would not have been able to help thousands of needy people.
In another context, VanderVelden denied in a statement to Sudan Tribune that they have reduced food rations for IDP’s in South Darfur state but pointed out that their assessment during the last ten years attempts to identify the most deserving as opposed to other less needy groups.
She pointed out that the process of evaluating those in need is a long process conducted through meetings with mayors and camp chieftains and going to IDP homes as well.
The WFP official said that they are able to access all areas in Darfur with the exception of Jebel Marra.
(ST)