`A grim outlook for the months ahead’ is how one Tearfund partner is describing the food and security situation in Darfur.
Attacks on food convoys are having a marked effect on supplies in the beleaguered Sudanese region.
Mohammed Makki El Rasheed, 58, is the latest World Food Programme truck driver to be killed while transporting food relief.
The father-of-six was gunned down on his first delivery trip to Darfur, on the main transport route between north and south of the region.
Banditry
He is the second driver to be killed in recent weeks while another 26 colleagues are missing. So far this year 60 WFP lorries have been hijacked, with 39 still missing.
WFP truck convoys are currently delivering only half as much food to Darfur as is needed because banditry has slowed the turnaround time for trucks.
Only 900 metric tonnes a day is arriving at WFP warehouses when deliveries should be at 1,800 metric tonnes.
The result for those dependent on such aid is that next month’s supplies of cereals, pulses and sugar will be cut in half, while vegetable oil, salt and high-nutrient corn-soya blend will remain at normal ration levels.
Hard time
Tearfund partner, FAR Sudan, says the attacks on WFP lorries are affecting Darfuris it is working with.
`This is a hard time for people normally in relation to food,’ said a spokeswoman. `They face a hunger gap in the months before the rain comes and after people have mostly used up anything they managed to save from their last harvest.’
`There’s been a little rain in Darfur. Some people will be starting to prepare their land, if they can access it, but it will still be some time as they need to sow and wait. The harvest will come later. Many will still rely heavily on WFP rations.’
Political tensions are being raised by the start of a census across Sudan.
It is being carried out to pave the way for elections next year but is proving controversial in Darfur with reports from displacement camps that people are refusing to take part.