U.N. Plans To Cut Food Supply to Darfur

Rebecca Hauser/April 18, 2008/1:15am/Human Rights

For five long years, a bloody war has raged in Sudan, particularly in Darfur. This war has left thousands with no food, shelter, or clean drinking water. The U.N. World Food Program has been aiding this area by sending in rations of food. For most of these people, this is the only food supply they have. It is their only life-line at this point. Recently, the WFP-hired truck convoys have been hijacked or raided, preventing the vital food supply from reaching the needy. Security in the area is so sparse that the people in the convoys are left to defend themselves. Dozens of trucks are missing, along with their drivers. Due to this, the U.N. food supply will be cut in half starting in May until something changes.

Most everyone has heard of the attrocities that have taken place in Darfur. Unfortunately, things at this time are looking even more grim - if that is even a possibility. The fact that rebel groups are inabling the U.N. WFP to get food to the needy is a direct violation of these people's human rights. Food is a necessity in life. It is not something that you can survive without. More than 2 million people depend on this food for survival. To take away a person's supply to nurishment is to take away their life. Due to the war, these people are not able to obtain food for themselves, and now the outside sources are also being cut off. If this situation progresses, it could lead to a mass killing of hundrends of thousands. I am absolutely appalled at this. Yes, there is a war going on. But what does it prove to take away food from millions of people, including helpless children. If the U.N. can hire convoys of trucks to take the food to these people, why aren't they hiring security gaurds or providing millitary support for them? This seems very confusing to me!