Sudan: With rain-drenched roads impassable, UN expands food airlifts

With heavy rains rendering roads in many parts of the Sudan impassable, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded its food airlift to new locations in order to reach some 200,000 people cut off from outside assistance.

"Flying in food aid is always a last resort since it's an expensive option," said Masood Hyder, WFP's Country Representative in Khartoum. "But we have no choice when lives are in danger," he added. "Thousands of people are extremely vulnerable and malnutrition rates are high."

According to the agency, almost half of those targeted by the new airlift continue to suffer from the Sudan's worst drought in decades, while the rest are victims of the conflict in the south.

Under the new operation, four aircraft will fly each day from WFP's airbase in El Obeid, delivering a total of about 2,000 metric tonnes of food over the next month. The agency needs an additional $500,000 to cover the cost of the expanded airlift.

Despite the current rains, the drought continues to cause severe problems, with upcoming harvests projected to be poor. "The rains pouring down now do not wipe away the effects of widespread drought, nor the devastation it continues to wreak on the lives of thousands of Sudanese," said Mr. Hyder. "It is far too early to declare the drought over."

Meanwhile, the agency continues its $10 million emergency food distribution operation, which aims to help nearly 3 million Sudanese people.