EU boosts WFP operations in Sudan’s Darfur

Oct 5, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The European Commission (EC) has donated 28 million euros (35 million U.S. dollars) to UN World Food Program (WFP) to help sustain the agency’s operation in Sudan’s strife-torn western region of Darfur.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the WFP said the two significant donations — 26 million euros (32.5 million dollars) for WFP’ s emergency relief operations and two million euros (2.5 million dollars) for the Humanitarian Air Service (WFPHAS) which transports both the WFP and other humanitarian staff to areas which are inaccessible by road, will have direct impacts on the well-being of the people in Darfur.

“This generous contribution will have a direct impact on the well-being of the people we’re trying to help in Darfur,” said Kenro Oshidari, WFP’s representative in Sudan said in the statement.

“With these funds, we can replenish our food stocks and keep WFPHAS helicopters and aircraft flying so that all those engaged in providing humanitarian assistance can reach remote parts of Darfur that would otherwise be cut off,” the UN agency said.

According to the WFP, the donation brings the EC’s total contribution to Sudan to 71.9 million euros (90 million dollars) this year, a 60 percent increase from its 2005 contribution.

In August, the WFP said it fed a total 2.6 million people in Darfur, but was unable to reach a further 355,000 people — mostlyin North Darfur — due to ongoing fighting and banditry which haveblocked humanitarian aid.

The WFP said it currently has enough food for its beneficiariesuntil the end of 2006, but unless new donations are made soon, food stocks will begin to run down in January.

(Xinhua/ST)