Emergency Airdrops of Food Assistance in South Sudan - World Food Programme 2012

With CIDA's support the United Nations World Food Programme will provide emergency food assistance to address the basic needs of up to 160 000 Sudanese refugees in South Sudan as a result of ongoing conflict in Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. This support will address escalating humanitarian needs in South Sudan’s Upper Nile and Unity states following a new influx of Sudanese refugees since early May 2012. Food had been prepositioned in advance of the rainy season in South Sudan however the sudden influx of 35 000 refugees into Upper Nile state in May and June 2012 brought a sharp increase in food needs just as the rainy season set in making movement of food in the area more challenging. Similarly rains have effectively cut off overland transport of food to Unity state which is hosting over 60 000 Sudanese refugees. The proposed allocation to the United Nations World Food Programme’s emergency airdrop operation in South Sudan will allow vital food distributions to continue uninterrupted.

Expected outputs include: the timely delivery of over 5 000 metric tonnes of humanitarian food assistance to over 160 000 refugees in Upper Nile and Unity states; and reduced morbidity and mortality amongst refugees by ensuring increased access to sufficient supplies of food. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.