WORLD : Unrest Halts Sudan Food Drive
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NAIROBI, Kenya — U.N. officials today canceled a food airlift to southern Sudan, saying disputes with rebels had thwarted their efforts to save thousands of people from starvation.
World Food Program Director Trevor Page said U.N. flights to the government-held town of Malakal had been called off after disagreements with southern rebels over flight schedules.
“The situation is desperate and at least 20% of Malakal’s population has moved out of the town in search of food,” said Page. “Because of this impasse there will be no U.N. flights.”
Page said a lot of people will die in Malakal if food does not reach them soon. He added that the government had said it would start flying in food itself.
Government troops and rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army are waging gun battles around the town, which has a population of about 100,000.
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