By Riches Soberekon
The United Nations has delivered the first humanitarian convoy to East Darfur, bringing 430 tons of agricultural seeds.
The convoy was negotiated by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and traveled from White Nile to EdDaien, the capital of East Darfur. The seeds will be distributed to farmers across the state by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The UN spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said that further humanitarian access is urgently needed so that all agricultural areas in Darfur can benefit from the provision of seeds. He also called on all parties to the conflict to provide farmers with access to agricultural lands and to ensure their protection as they plant and harvest their crops.
The delivery of the seeds comes as U.N. officials say that the conflict in Sudan has left 24 million people — half the country’s population — in need of food and other assistance.
The operations director of the U.N. humanitarian agency and the deputy executive director of UNICEF painted a dire picture of the devastation and upheavals in Sudan, with no peace talks in sight.
They say that hotspots like the capital of Khartoum, southern Kordofan and western Darfur have been devastated by fighting, and that, the more than 110-day conflict has turned a humanitarian crisis into a catastrophe.
In short, the UN has delivered a much-needed shipment of agricultural seeds to East Darfur, but the conflict in Sudan is still causing widespread devastation and displacement. More humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to help the millions of people who are suffering.
