Sudan violence 'halts food aid'

2006-09-12 08:53

Khartoum - Violence has prevented food aid from reaching some 355 000 people in North Darfur for the past three months, says the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), expressing fears that the humanitarian situation can worsen when African peacekeepers' mandate expires at the end of September.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese government maintained its opposition to plans for a UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur, criticising on Monday the UN response to its own proposal to restore order to the conflict-wracked area.

Violence had increased sharply in the arid area of western Sudan since the government and a rebel group signed the Darfur Peace Agreement in May.

North Darfur had been so volatile since June that delivery of UN food aid had been impossible.

Hunger 'to add fuel to the fire'

The lack of assistance came at a critical time, amid what the programme called the "hunger season" - at the end of the rainy season lasting from June through September and right before the harvest of cereal crops sorghum and millet.

Kenro Oshidari, a WFP representative in Sudan, said: "Without food aid, things will become more volatile. Hunger exacerbates the already precarious security situation. It will add fuel to the fire. Food aid is vital to stability."

Uncertainty over the security of food shipments was mounting as the African Union's 7 000-strong peacekeeping mandate in Darfur was scheduled to end on September 30.

Emilia Cassella of the programme's Khartoum office said: "Should the AU leave, we are concerned tensions could increase." She said, nonetheless, the programme would continue its work in Darfur, "whatever political solution is decided".

Sudan rejects deployment of troops

A UN resolution passed on August 31 was meant to expand the current mission to some 20 000 peacekeepers. But, Sudan had rejected the deployment of troops under UN auspices, proposing to send 10 000 of its own soldiers to restore order.

More than 200 000 people had died in Darfur, an area roughly the size of France, since 2003 after ethnic African tribes revolted against the Arab-led government in Khartoum.

The government was accused of unleashing Arab militiamen who had been blamed for widespread atrocities. Another 2.5 million people had been forced to flee their homes and take refuge in crowded camps.

Meanwhile, Sudan vowed on Monday to launch an "intensive" diplomatic offensive at the UN to explain its opposition to the resolution providing for the peacekeeping mission.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Jamal Mohammed Ibrahim said: "This intensive political offensive will enable Sudan to refute Resolution 1706 and explain the political, security and humanitarian aspects of the government's plan."

Ibrahim reiterated the government's position that a UN mission saying its presence would impinge on "the sovereignty of Sudan".

- AP