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| Africa Horn |
| UN threatens to halt Darfur food aid over attacks |
| 2008-09-08 |
| The United Nations on Sunday threatened to suspend emergency food deliveries to parts of war-torn Darfur in western Sundan if the security situation does not improve. The warning comes after a surge of hijackings and bandit attacks. The UN's World Food Program (WFP) said "relentless" attacks on its food convoys, workers and drivers were pushing staff to the limit. More than 100 vehicles carrying WFP food aid have been hijacked in Darfur this year, with 43 drivers and 63 trucks still missing. Many more have been shot at and robbed, the UN agency said. "Should these attacks continue, the situation will become intolerable -- to the point that we will have to suspend operations in some areas of Darfur," the WFP's Deputy Representative in Sudan, Monika Midel, said. WFP spokesman Rachid Jaafar told reporters the agency had not decided which delivery routes would be cut. "But large numbers will be affected," he said. The WFP currently delivers food to more than 3 million people in Darfur, he added. The agency put out its statement after three trucks and four staff members were hijacked in south Darfur last Wednesday. The vehicles were recovered on Saturday and the workers rescued. Aid groups working in the world's largest humanitarian operation say they are also regularly plagued by small armed gangs and bandits, targeting their vehicles, staff and compounds. The WFP cut its Darfur food rations in May, blaming a rise in attacks. The agency said almost 50,000 people received no food aid at all in July because of security problems. Sunday's announcement came days after German Agro Action, suspended food deliveries to 450,000 people in North Darfur after threats against its staff. |
| Posted by:Fred |