WFP Operational Update – Insecurity Hinders World Food Programme Deliveries In Darfur: 22 October 2004
The security situation in all three states of Darfur remains highly volatile with road closures because of insecurity cutting into WFPs ability to provide food.
Nevertheless, by 18 October WFP had delivered a total of 11.064 metric tons of food, enough to feed an estimated 632.000 people, in the Darfur region since the beginning of the month. But if insecurity persists or worsens, WFP may not be able to feed as many people as it hoped to reach in October.
By the end of the year, WFP hopes to be feeding two million people in Darfur.
In the past week, unidentified men – some in civilian clothing and others in uniform – have attacked WFP-contracted commercial trucks in South Darfur. In one case, 36 trucks were attacked on 15 October some 70 kilometres west of Kass. The trucks were well marked with WFP flags and stickers.
While no WFP food was looted, the assailants beat some drivers and took their personal belongings. To avoid such attacks, drivers are using longer alternative routes.
WFP has also received reports of several recent incidents of banditry involving armed men attacking villages in South Darfur.
Attacks on locations with internally displaced people are also reported, with people fleeing to other sites for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
WFP and it partners on 14 October postponed planned food distributions in Hashaba and Bashoum in South Darfur after attacks in the area. The UN closed the area to access by UN humanitarian workers on 19 October. Food distributions might start after the UN makes a new security assessment.
In light of growing insecurity in North Darfur, UN Security declared several areas near El-Fasher and Kutum “No-Go” areas. The killing of two staff with Save the Children-UK in a landmine explosion on 10 October and skirmishes between troops and rebel forces have increased tension in the region. This hampers WFPs ability to deliver food to some 160.000 people in these areas.
The village of Masteri in West Darfur remains a “No-Go” area because of reports that Arab militiamen were harassing the local non-Arab population.
WFP continues to drop food by air to some of those most in need. Since the start of October, more than 800 tons of food were dropped to 45.000 people.
Shortages of commercial trucks and slow deliveries of locally purchased food are making WFP’s job of delivering food more difficult. In addition, the holy month of Ramadan has slowed down operations, particularly at Port Sudan and in stores.
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.
Suppliers are therefore holding on to their stocks, in anticipation that prices will rise. WFP is paying 185 US dollar per ton for sorghum (durra) compared to 168 dollar per ton this time last year from Gedaref State – a 12 percent increase.
A total of 120 6×6 all-terrain trucks are now in the Darfurs. The whole fleet of 200 leased long-haul trucks is expected to be operational around 1 November.
WFP has four helicopters in the Humanitarian Air Services based in Nyala and El-Fasher. The passenger fleet is three Beechcraft (18-seaters), three Cessna Caravans and one DHC-8 (36-seater). For cargo, WFP uses five Ilyushin-76s and three Antonov-12s.
WFP has received 167,7 million US dollar to date for its 203 million dollar emergency operation to provide food to the needy in the Darfurs until the end of this year, leaving a shortfall of almost 18 per cent.
In addition, donors have made confirmed contributions of 11 million dollar to WFP to provide air services to carry aid workers and aid to the Darfurs.
Through 2005, substantial quantities of food aid will be required to feed people affected by conflict in Darfur.
Kilde: www.wfp.dk
