Hunger in Darfur

Madam, - I read the report in your edition of September 13th which states that the World Food Programme (WFP) is "reaching about…

Madam, - I read the report in your edition of September 13th which states that the World Food Programme (WFP) is "reaching about 35 per cent, or 415,000, of the 1.2 million people estimated to be in need of assistance each month" in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

The truth is less bleak: WFP provided about 950,000 people with food in Darfur in July and in August. This was despite heavy rains that turned Darfur's dirt tracks to mush, persisting insecurity and an operation that is still under-resourced. These numbers are worryingly short of our 1.2 million target for both months but substantially better than your report suggests.

WFP is grateful to the Government of Ireland for its contributions to our efforts in Darfur which currently amount to $1,225,490. We firmly believe that with further financial support for our operation we will be much closer to reaching our targets in Darfur. In October, we will be aiming to feed 2 million people. - Yours, etc.,

RAMIRO LOPES DA SILVA, WFP Sudan Country Director, Khartoum, Sudan.