The Complexities of Food Aid in Sudan

Photo: Henry McInnis for Mercy Corps
Photo: Henry McInnis for Mercy Corps

Along the banks of the Nile River in Sudan is some of the most fertile land in Africa. In fact, “Sudan could be self-sufficient, it does have the potential to be the breadbasket of Africa,” notes Kenro Oshidari, director of the UN World Food Program in Sudan.

Despite a harsh humanitarian situation in Darfur, and being the recipient of the most food aid, Sudan is actually a major exporter of sorghum, wheat, beans, peanuts, and tomatoes, among other crops. Just last year the U.S. shipped 283,000 tons of sorghum to Darfur — almost the exact same amount of sorghum exported by Sudan, UN officials told the New York Times.

Jeffrey Gettleman of The New York Times explores the complexity of food aid in Sudan in his revealing article; "The Food Chain: Darfur Withers as Sudan Sells Food."

Comments

in Portland, OR

NPR on the Global Food Crisis

Despite some decreases in staple food prices, NPR reports that food prices remain 60-percent higher than two years ago. A Save the Children relief specialist commented on how the price increases are affecting their programs:

...[Save the Children's] feeding centers are seeing growing numbers of children who are so chronically undernourished that, unless the crisis resolves in the next few months, they will suffer permanent physical and mental disabilities, such as chronic illness and lower IQ.

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