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UN condemns theft of food aid by Sudan’s warring sides

RFS forces near Al-Jazira state.

By Paul Aginnah | Friday, December 29, 2023

The World Food Programme (WFP) has vehemently condemned the looting of essential food supplies from its warehouse in Sudan's Al-Jazira state, an incident that unfolded when members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forcibly entered the WFP warehouse and office.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has vehemently condemned the looting of essential food supplies from its warehouse in Sudan's Al-Jazira state, an incident that unfolded when members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forcibly entered the WFP warehouse and office.

Sudan is currently ensnared in a devastating conflict between two rival military factions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The consequences have been severe, with thousands losing their lives and nearly seven million individuals displaced, forcing about 1.4 million people to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

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WFP disclosed that the looted warehouse held sufficient supplies to sustain the hunger-stricken population of 1.5 million for an entire month. The Al-Jazira region has experienced a recent surge in conflict, compelling over 300,000 people to flee for their lives once again.

The looted food stock primarily comprised specialized nutritious items designed to combat malnutrition among more than 20,000 Sudanese children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. These provisions were intended to be accessed through healthcare centers that directly receive support from WFP.

Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa, expressed his dismay, stating, “Sudanese people who are already desperate and fleeing the fighting have now been robbed of the critical assistance they need. This is intolerable and must stop.”

In response to the incident, the UN agency has temporarily halted distributions in Al-Jazira. It is actively reconfiguring its humanitarian response and has initiated distributions in eastern states, where individuals fleeing Al-Jazira are currently seeking refuge.