‘Don’t let traders distribute sorgum’

31/10/2011 22:36

Refugees in West Darfur’s Hamidiya camp ask WFP to provide them with the staple foodgrainRefugees residing in West Darfur’s Hamidya camp refused on Monday to grant distribution rights of sorgum to traders in the region.The decision came after a joint meeting between the representatives of camp residents, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Humanitarian Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs for the UNAMID in Hamidiya camp, Zalingei.The coordinator of Zalingei camps told Radio Dabanga after the meeting that the refugees had refused to grant distribution rights of sorghum, a staple food stuff of Darfuris, to traders because of their inefficiency to provide the required amount. The coordinator said that there was a requirement of 21,000 sacks of sorghum every month, which the traders could possibly not provide.“The markets are already suffering from lack of food due to the failure of the agricultural season. There are also fears of famine that threaten Darfur,” he said.In this context, the representatives of refugees made it clear that they would not like the traders to provide them with the staple foodgrain but have it delivered by the WFP.

Refugees in West Darfur’s Hamidiya camp ask WFP to provide them with the staple foodgrain

Refugees residing in West Darfur’s Hamidya camp refused on Monday to grant distribution rights of sorgum to traders in the region.

The decision came after a joint meeting between the representatives of camp residents, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Humanitarian Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs for the UNAMID in Hamidiya camp, Zalingei.

The coordinator of Zalingei camps told Radio Dabanga after the meeting that the refugees had refused to grant distribution rights of sorghum, a staple food stuff of Darfuris, to traders because of their inefficiency to provide the required amount. The coordinator said that there was a requirement of 21,000 sacks of sorghum every month, which the traders could possibly not provide.

“The markets are already suffering from lack of food due to the failure of the agricultural season. There are also fears of famine that threaten Darfur,” he said.

In this context, the representatives of refugees made it clear that they would not like the traders to provide them with the staple foodgrain but have it delivered by the WFP.