Dispute halts food distribution to Central Darfur camp

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended the distribution of food rations to the population of Bindisi camp in Central Darfur, owing to a dispute between the organisation and the camp residents about a grain silo. In West Darfur, the population of El Geneina camps have rejected WFP’s proposal to reduce the food rations to be implemented in October. In Central Darfur, the 27,000 residents of Bindisi camp have not received food rations for four months because of a dispute between the WFP and the camp sheikhs over the relocation of a grain silo from the camp to Bindisi town. The coordinator of the Central Darfur camps told Radio Dabanga that WFP officials had informed them that the moving of the silo was a precautionary measure, taken for the sake of the camp’s security, in particular during the rainy season. The Bindisi camp population refused, fearing this would be the first step of the dismantling of the camp. ‘The most needy’ One of El Geneina camps sheikhs told Radio Dabanga that on Sunday WFP representatives notified them that the organisation is planning to distribute food ration cards for the most needy displaced only. “The WFP staff further told us that they will classify the displaced into four levels. Teams will determine the level of their illegibility for distribution. The implementation of this programme will begin in October.” The sheikh said that they refused the classification of the displaced into levels, and called via Radio Dabanga on the UN to intervene, and repeal the decision “so as to ensure that food will be distributed to all the displaced without discrimination”.  File photo: A woman shows her WFP food ration card in Kassab camp for the displaced, North Darfur (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: DRA head intervenes in Central Darfur camp dispute (19 February 2014)Central Darfur displaced protest against ‘re-planning’ camps (18 February 2014)