20100205
africanews

About 11 million people in Sudan will need food aid in 2010 because of conflict, drought and high food prices in the country, the Rome-based World Food Programme said. The number of the people needing food aid in South Sudan has also increased from about one million in 2009 to over 4.3 million this year.
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“One is the drought and the second factor is inter-tribal conflicts,” WFP Southern Sudan Coordinator Leo Van Der Veldon told reporters.

The drought also affected Kenya, parts of Uganda and Ethiopia but the ongoing violence have gotten worse of the situation.

The heavy rains has blocked roads and also stopped food aid from agencies, according to Van der Veldon. The agency was planning 50,000 metric tonnes of grain and oil for millions who would need it when the rains start.

The fighting between rival ethnic groups in Southern Sudan has killed over 2,500 people in 2009 and 350,000 people fled from their houses, WFP said.

Clashes between rival tribes happen repeatedly in south Sudan because of disagreements over natural resources. However, children and women have been the main targets of the recent attacks.