Clashes force WFP to suspend food convoys to Darfur //CORRECTED REPEAT//

The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended relief convoys carrying urgently needed food from central Sudan to the western region of Darfur as a result of an attack in neighbouring Kordofan, a WFP spokesperson said on Wednesday. WFP halted three convoys of 70 trucks transporting more than 1,300 million mt of food aid to El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, and Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, after rebels attacked the market town of Ghubaysh in West Kordofan on 26 December, WFP's Laura Melo told IRIN. "The attacks followed weeks of insecurity in Darfur and this has caused difficulties in terms of providing assistance," Melo said. "It will delay urgently required food for people in South Darfur and the eastern parts of West Darfur." The state of insecurity in the region has left 260,000 people cut off from much required assistance, Melo said, adding that WFP was trying to find an alternative route to deliver the food to those in need. "It will be a longer route, which will require more fuel," she said. She also expressed concern that rebels had stolen 13 lorries hired by WFP during the past two weeks to transport food aid to those affected by the conflict in Darfur. The UN Advance Mission in Sudan (UNAMIS) said in a statement issued on Tuesday that the attack by the rebel Sudan Liberation Army on Ghubaysh was the second carried out by the group since 19 December, when the Sudanese government agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities. "This latest insecurity has serious consequences for the UN and NGOs operations in Darfur, as it effectively blocks overland access from central Sudan to the Darfur region," said UNAMIS. "This has a particular impact on WFP's provision of life-saving food aid, as it must rely heavily on road deliveries to support its Darfur humanitarian operation." Jan Pronk, the special representative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Sudan, called for the immediate return of the stolen vehicles. "More alarming are reports that the rebel group that stole them may now be using some of these trucks for military purposes," said UNAMIS in its statement. "The problems of Darfur cannot be solved through military means," Pronk said. "The parties to the conflict have to live up to their commitments, including their responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their own people and their unhindered access to humanitarian assistance." The war in Darfur pits the Sudanese government troops and militias allegedly allied to the government against rebels fighting to end what they have called marginalisation and discrimination of the region's inhabitants by the state. The conflict has displaced an estimated 1.45 million people within Sudan and sent another 200,000 fleeing across the border into Chad. The UN has described the Darfur problem as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.