USAID sorghum for Darfur lands in Port Sudan

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a significant in-kind food contribution, 47,500 metric tons of sorghum, from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Valued at approximately $37 million, this in-kind food contribution will be used to support WFP’s operations in Sudan.

The US Charge d’Affaires, Benjamin Moeling, and WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director, Adnan Khan, were at Port Sudan in Red Sea state to welcome the arrival of the ship. They also saw first-hand WFP’s logistics operations including the unloading and bagging of sorghum at the port.

“The Obama Administration, working with WFP, is committed to ensuring that fewer people in Sudan go to bed hungry. We cannot and will not ignore the pressing and immediate needs of people who are affected by conflict or drought who continue to face severe food insecurity and malnutrition. We remain committed to helping vulnerable people in Sudan and urge all parties to end the conflicts,” said Moeling.

WFP: The USA continues to be WFP’s long-standing partner and largest single donor over the years, contributing almost half of WFP’s yearly requirements for its operations in Sudan. From 2010 to 2015 alone, USAID contributed more than $1.4 billion to WFP operations in Sudan, enabling it to respond to the needs of food-insecure people across the country, especially those who have been displaced by recurring conflict in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, as well as the more recent influx of South Sudanese refugees fleeing hunger and conflict in their country.

“This generous contribution from the USA demonstrates our strong relations and common goal of serving vulnerable people in Sudan. It also comes at a time when we are looking for additional resources to meet the needs created by new displacements in Darfur and the influx of South Sudanese refugees,” said Adnan Khan.

In a joint news release, the US and WFP say that this consignment of 47,500 metric tons will be used to support the needs of nearly 200,000 South Sudanese refugees for five months and more than one million displaced people in Darfur for four months.

Sudan is one of WFP’s most complex humanitarian emergencies, characterized by recurring conflict, new as well as protracted displacement, regional insecurity, crisis levels of malnutrition, and food insecurity. Through its Protracted Relief and Recovery Operations, WFP will continue providing life-saving food assistance where required and at the same time vigorously support communities’ resilience and recovery.