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World Vision Concerned - More Will Suffer in Darfur Because of Food Ration Cuts |
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Written by Wire Services
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Saturday, 29 April 2006 |
 World Vision, one of the World Food Programme's (WFP) largest partner agencies, says that the more than 220,000 people in Sudan's Darfur region that it serves will suffer further as a result of the food ration cuts, announced by WFP on Thursday. Due to lack of funding from donor governments, WFP announced it will be cutting rations in half as of May. Food rations will be cut from 2,100 calories per day for each person, to 1,050 calories. The average North American consumes roughly 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day.
"Sudan tops the list of countries in need of food aid and overall humanitarian assistance," said Emmanuel Isch, director of humanitarian and emergency affairs for World Vision. "After three years of brutal conflict in Darfur, more than 3 million people have been driven from their land and require food aid and other basic assistance just to survive. This announcement is just another chapter in the never-ending nightmare for children and their families fleeing from so much suffering."
WFP estimates that the cost of feeding those in need in Sudan has climbed to $750 million, of which only one-third has been raised to-date for the current year. As of January 2006, the Canadian government has contributed roughly $4.7 million dollars to WFP's Sudan emergency - compared to $210 million from the United States. Individual Canadians have donated more than $2.2 million since June 2004 through World Vision Canada to the Darfur crisis.
"People are living on the brink and yet end up on the bottom of the list for donations," added Isch. "We are calling on the Canadian government and all Canadians to respond generously to this terrible situation."
World Vision, which has been active in Sudan since 1972 and in Darfur since 2004, plans to begin its next food distribution phase in July with more than 12,000 metric tons at a value of $10 million, but will have to distribute half of the planned ration sizes unless donor funding to WFP improves. World Vision, with the help of Canadians, runs extensive programming throughout Sudan including: peace and reconciliation initiatives, emergency relief such as food aid, water and sanitation, the provision of child-friendly spaces, primary healthcare for pregnant women and vaccinations for children, training for teachers and school supplies for children, as well as training for farmers in agricultural and natural resource management.
Canadians can donate by calling 1.800.268.5528 or by visiting www.worldvision.ca |
