Refugees complain of price hike in food supplies

Appeal to WFP to end contract for food rationing with local traders in Saraf Omra

Refugees in Saraf Omra camp in North Darfur complained on Friday of price hike in food supplies in the camp due to improper rationing by local traders.They appealed to the World Food Program (WFP) to end a contract with traders inside the camp for distribution of rations to the displaced people of the region.

The refugees demanded that the program must directly take charge of food distribution or sign a contract with traders from El Fasher who are a better at taking care of rationing.

“We are saying this because traders who are engaged in Saraf Omra fail to provide the planned share of food rations to the refugees. They hike the food price under the pretext that food supplies are minimal and will only be replenished after fall.,” a leader of the refugee camp told Radio Dabanga.

He added that if the contract with the local merchants in Saraf Omra was replaced by merchants from El Fasher, it would bring benefits to camp residents.

“When the local merchants found out about our protest, they refused to offload their stocks and threatened to loot the truck drivers. We have told the police and the UNAMID about the developments,” he said.

Earlier this week Radio Dabanga reported about how WFP was accused of violating international law with regard to distributing food to refugee camps in North Darfur