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The vital humanitarian corridor will allow the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to scale up assistance to 14 areas facing famine in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazirah.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we speak, two convoys with nearly 6,000 metric tons of food and nutrition supplies for around half a million people, are being loaded<\/strong>, destined for risk-of-famine areas in north, central and west Darfur states as soon as official Government communication and clearances are received,\u201d said Leni Kinzli, spokesperson for WFP Sudan.<\/p>\n Just two weeks ago, famine was confirmed<\/strong> in Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher, the wartorn capital of North Darfur. It shelters more than 400,000 displaced people.<\/p>\n In total, WFP aims to support up to 8.4 million people by the end of the year,<\/p>\n Sudan\u2019s war – which erupted 16 months ago between rival militaries the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces – has ravaged food production, destroyed essential markets and cut off communities from assistance.<\/p>\n Along with heavy fighting, the continuing rainy season has already caused major setbacks in delivering assistance, with flooded roads halting aid convoys.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than 50 trucks carrying an estimated 4,800 metric tons of food and nutrition assistance, enough for around half a million people, are stuck in various locations<\/strong> across Sudan<\/strong> and unable to move toward their final destinations due to flooded and impassable roads,\u201d said WFP\u2019s Ms. Kinzli, who insisted that humanitarian agencies urgently needed to \u201csee the actual opening of (Adre) materialize and see trucks moving across the border as soon as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n Echoing that message, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the immediate and lasting effects of poor nutrition and acute food insecurity among vulnerable people.<\/p>\n WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris told journalists in Geneva that a mild infection in a malnourished person with a weakened immune system can easily turn into a catastrophic illness.<\/p>\n Children in particular can die very quickly from what might be a minor infection, she said, adding that after 16 months of heavy fighting, Sudan was poorly equipped to provide lifesaving medical care, with up to 80 per cent\u00a0of hospitals \u201cnon-functional\u201d.<\/p>\nHunger\u2019s lasting impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n