WFP starts extensive airlift to Darfur, Sudan

WFP starts extensive airlift to Darfur, Sudan    The United Nations’ World Food Program started airlifting food aid this week to Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.
   WFP chartered two Ilyushin cargo planes to transport about 2,000 metric tons of enriched flour from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Nyala in South Darfur and El Fasher in North Darfur. The UN agency estimates its planes will have to make 44 flights to deliver the food.
   WFP said the arrival of rain in the region has started to cause severe problems for truck transport. “As much food as possible is being airlifted into Darfur and food air-drops are planned for communities that will be cut off by the rains, particularly in the west,” the agency said in a June 30 statement.
   The agency has received $195 million in emergency operations funds for the Darfur region, of which the United States donated $46 million.