European Commission gives €46m for humanitarian assistance in Sudan

By Julius N. Uma

July 7, 2010 (JUBA) — The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a €46 million boost to address humanitarian needs in Sudan, courtesy of a European Commission meeting held in Rome, Italy yesterday.

Thus the agreement, according to a communiqué, followed series of negotiations between the European Commission and WFP, to provide immediate assistance to the populations in Darfur and Southern Sudan.

“Humanitarian needs have increased dramatically in Sudan, so additional funding is vital. I am deeply concerned about the situation of civilians affected by the recent fighting in some areas of South Darfur, particularly Jebel Marra, and parts of West Darfur. Several thousands of people have been displaced and urgently need our assistance and, worryingly, humanitarian agencies have no access to them,” Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response said.

According to WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran the European Commission’s contribution is timely, having come at the start of the hunger season in Sudan; when food stocks are low and WFP needs to build up supplies to meet the nutritional needs of millions of hungry Sudanese people.

“This generous donation advances WFP’s critical partnership with Europe in protecting Sudan’s most vulnerable people. Make no mistake this contribution will directly help save lives,” she said.

COMPLEX HUMANITARIAN SITUATIONS

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan remains complex as internal and cross-border conflicts persist, leaving the population increasingly vulnerable to food insecurity.

In Darfur alone, nearly 4million people remain dependent on humanitarian food assistance as sporadic fighting continues to threaten the prospects of recovery and development in the region.

Meanwhile in Southern Sudan, where nearly 3.3 million people are moderately food insecure, political and ethnic tensions have led to an upsurge of violent conflicts, threatening the relative peace experienced in the region, since the end of an over two decades-long civil war in 2005.

Last week, Lise Grande, the UN Deputy Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, warned that worsening humanitarian situations in the form of constant inter-tribal conflicts and rising food insecurity in South Sudan threatens prospects for a successful referendum.

Inter-tribal conflicts in South Sudan have killed nearly 700 people, with over 90,000 reportedly displaced, notably in Warrap and Jonglei states.

(ST)