Germany donates $2.7 million to WFP for Darfur displaced

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed two German grants totalling €2.5 million ($2.7 million), to support its humanitarian assistance programme to the displaced in Darfur.

“WFP is grateful to the Government of Germany for this contribution and for always sticking by the most vulnerable people in Sudan, giving them the support they desperately need,” said WFP Sudan Country Director Adnan Khan.

“This timely contribution will enable us to provide vital food assistance to those who are hungry as well as helping us to prevent and treat malnutrition among pregnant and nursing mothers and young children.”

In a press statement on Saturday, the WFP said that the first grant of €2 million will be used to “provide some 670 metric tons of protein-rich yellow split peas to more than 470,000 displaced in Darfur through a general food distribution for one month”.

The second grant, of €500,000 ($553,000), will support the UN Humanitarian Air Service (Unhas), which is managed by WFP.

Rolf Welberts, the German Ambassador to Sudan, said that “It is our share in the fight against hunger in Darfur, and it will prevent irreversible damage to the physical and mental development of young children. And keeping Unhas’ passenger and cargo services running is a critical part of all humanitarian work in Sudan.”

Germany is one of WFP Sudan’s top donors, contributing nearly $5 million for 2014-2015 emergency operations in addition to providing consistent support to Unhas operations.