Italy gives 1.2 mln dlrs for WFP operations in Sudan

April 20, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The UN World Food Program (WFP) on Thursday welcomed an Italian donation of 1 million euros (about 1.2 million U.S. dollars) towards its emergency operation in Sudan, which is providing food assistance to more than 6.1 million peoplethroughout 2006.

WFP said in a statement issued in Nairobi that the emergency food aid is for displaced families and those affected by the conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan, as well as for people living in the other areas of the country.

“We are extremely grateful for the timing and the nature of Italy’s donation,” said Ramiro Lopes da Silva, WFP’s Regional Director for Sudan, in the statement.

“This contribution has made it possible to send 1,000 metric tons of food to those in urgent need of assistance,” da Silva added.

Famine and disease have caused many deaths since the Darfur conflict erupted in 2003. Several million others have either fled into neighboring Chad or been displaced inside Sudan.

“To date, the operation has suffered from the slow arrival of donor funds, with a critical shortage of untied cash contributionsthat can be used to transport food commodities,” said the UN agency.

“In the long term, Sudan has the potential to produce enough food for all its people, but that will take time to achieve,” Lopes da Silva said.

While the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ending the war in the south marked a turning point for Sudan, the need for food assistance remains.

WFP said it had required 746 million dollars for its emergency operation in Sudan in 2006 but it has received just 31 percent of that amount.

(Xinhua)