GENEVA – The World Food Programme (WFP) has estimated that $13 million to $14 million worth of food products destined to people in need in Sudan have been looted since fighting broke out last month, the WFP said.
“We’ve estimated that close to 17,000 metric tons have been looted, some in our warehouses, while others on wheels,” Country director Eddie Rowe, speaking to Reuters from Port Sudan via video link.
“This would translate to about 13 or 14 million US dollars – just the cost of the food. Almost every day we are receiving reports of additional looting.”
Rowe’s comments come a day after UN aid chief Martin Griffiths appealed to the warring sides in Sudan to ensure safe passage of humanitarian aid and staff.
Rowe said that the WFP needed to purchase more supplies urgently for Sudan.
“We know that if we do not procure commodities now, we are going to run out of stock in the next two to three months,” he said.
“We’ve already started our engagement with our donors to see how quickly we can procure and also deliver in these locations where we do have windows of opportunity and where it’s considered relatively safe for us to provide assistance,” he said.
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