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USAID Responds Quickly To Avoid Cut In Food Rations For Over One And A Half Million In Darfur
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 03, 2005
0419-05-031
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
Contact: USAID Press Office
Washington, DC - In a quick response to the worsening food shortage in Sudan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) redirected approximately 8,450 metric tons of non-cereal food commodities already on the high seas, to Sudan. This emergency food assistance will enable the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) to provide full non-cereal food rations until August for more than 1.5 million people living in Sudan's western region of Darfur. The U.N. agency issued a warning three weeks ago of impending ration cuts due to a lack of funds and poor donor response to the emergency operation in Darfur.
"The U.S. government, along with the international donor community, is deeply concerned that the situation in Darfur does not worsen and put even more vulnerable men, women and children in danger of not having their basic nutritional needs met," USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios said. "In addition to the shortage of resources, the estimate of those who will require food aid in the months ahead is increasing. This additional contribution of vegetable oil, pulses, peas and corn soya blend (CSB) will help maintain the food ration the people are currently receiving and keep them healthy."
Through USAID's office of Food for Peace, the U.S. government has contributed a total of 336,980 metric tons of food for Darfur in fiscal year 2004-2005, including 200,000 metric tons of wheat from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. Before the diversion of these latest non-cereal food commodities, the United States had already contributed 60 percent of the total WFP food requirements, representing 86% of the total amount that WFP has so far received for Darfur this year.
"The international donor community must remain committed to helping people who need life-saving food assistance, particularly in Africa. We remain deeply concerned that an even more drastic situation may develop in East Africa," Natsios said. The international donor community can avert a crisis there if we act quickly and generously."
For more information on USAID assistance to Africa, visit www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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