Sudan: World Food Agency To Drop Food By Air
The
United Nations' Food Agency is to launch air drops
of food over parts of southern Sudan.
Top official of the Programme in Sudan, Kenro
Oshidari said the World Food Programme aims to
provide twenty-two thousand tonnes of food to about
three hundred thousand additional people facing
severe food shortages by the end of the year, half
of it by air drops.
Oshidari said in all, one point three million people
in Southern Sudan now need food assistance, mainly
subsistence farmers who suffer from a lack of rain,
high food prices and low prices for their cattle.
The Official said food was needed particularly in
places like Akobo which is cut off from commercial
supplies.
He said air drops were more expensive to carry out
as they involve larger planes than air lifts in
which the aircraft lands and uploads.
REUTERS/Qasim/Funke/Ahaziah