Famine displaces 98,000 persons in eastern Sudan

The agency quoted a report compiled by national and international non-governmental organizations as saying that 10 out of the 29 schools in eastern Sudan had been closed down because of famine in the area. The hardest hit areas include Haya, Dardeb, Sinkat and Halaib. The Humanitarian Aid Commission in the Red Sea state reported that the rate of unemployment was 100 per cent among the displaced persons. It said the displaced persons were originally working on farms.

The Commission said 75 per cent of those affected by the famine have sold their properties to survive while those who used to own animals had either eaten or sold all their stock. The report said as a result of the school closure 65 per cent of the children are now off school. According to SUNA, 85,000 tons of rice donated by Italy is the only consignment of aid to have reached the area. The Aid Commission said this amount of food was not enough to feed the needy people in the region The team which carried out the food survey in the area included Oxfam, International Committee of the Red Cross, Sudanese Red Crescent Society and the World Food Programme.

(dpa)