United Nations Radio

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun air drops of food assistance into Southern Sudan to feed more than 155,000 people who have been cut off from road access due to heavy rains.

Previous WFP air drop in Sudan

The agency says the situation has been made worse as a result of years of conflict, high food prices, and poor harvests due to drought.

The airdrops, which began last Thursday, will continue for two-and-a-half months and will provide 4,000 metric tons of food to three Southern Sudan states - Jonglei, Upper Nile and Warrap.

WFP Sudan Country Director, Amer Daoudi, says there's no time to lose. He says his agency needs to save people from hunger and that air drops are the only way to reach them.

Many of the roads in Southern Sudan are in bad condition and cannot be used during the April to December rainy season. Increased tribal fighting has also blocked road and river access to some areas.

Because air drops are more expensive than bringing food in by road or river, WFP is appealing for $44 million to buy and deliver 22,000 metric tons of food to feed 300,000 people facing severe food insecurity in Southern Sudan. These are the first air drops by WFP into Southern Sudan since 2007.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
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