WFP says attacks hamper Darfur food deliveries

NAIROBI, Oct 22 (Reuters) – Dozens of aid trucks have been attacked in Sudan’s Darfur region in the past week and continued insecurity has forced the closure of some roads, hampering food deliveries, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

The U.N. agency said it had successfully delivered 11,000 tonnes of food, enough to feed 632,000 people, between Oct. 1-18, but warned that if the insecurity worsened further deliveries might become difficult.

More than 1.5 million people have been made homeless since rebels launched a revolt in early 2003 after years of skirmishes between mainly African farmers and Arab nomads over land.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that villages throughout Darfur faced an unprecedented food crisis. The warning was based on a study of food supplies in 20 selected villages.

“The security situation in all three states of Darfur remains highly volatile with road closures because of insecurity cutting into WFP’s ability to provide food,” the WFP said in a statement.

Unidentified men, some in civilian clothing and others in uniform, had attacked WFP-contracted trucks in South Darfur in the past week, it said.

In one case, 36 trucks were attacked on Oct. 15. Although no food was looted, the attackers beat some drivers and took their personal belongings. To avoid further such incidents, drivers were now taking longer routes.

Shortages of commercial trucks and slow deliveries of locally purchased food was also making WFP’s job of delivering food more difficult, the organisation said.

“In view of the erratic and poor rains this year, there are strong indications that national agricultural production will be at least 40 percent lower than last season,” it added. “Suppliers are therefore holding on to their stocks, in anticipation that prices will rise.”