Food Crisis Adds to Darfur’s Suffering

this news bulletin i received from the canadian save darfur coalition today is both sad and alarming. have you noticed how food shortages are becoming such an issue lately? how sad that the plight of refugees in sudan is compounded by food shortages.  bandits are attacking trucks contracted by the World Food Programme.

News Bulletin:

Last Thursday the World Food Program (WFP) announced that food rations in Darfur will be reduced by half – from 2,156 calories per person, per day, to only 1,242 calories.

Please send the Prime Minister 15 grams (four teaspoons) of rice, beans, or lentils, along with a letter. The cut in rations means that cereals will be cut to 225 grams. High-protein pulses (beans or lentils) will be cut to only 30 grams. Can you imagine having only 30 grams of protein-rich food each day?

Simply add the dry food and letter to a regular envelope, add one regular stamp and tape the envelope shut to ensure that it is well-sealed!

The Canadian government can take important steps to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, by working to improve the security situation in Darfur. The United Nations / African Union joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) needs additional support from Canada and other countries. The mission was supposed to be deployed by December 31st, 2007, but it has encountered huge delays due to obstruction by the Sudanese government and a lack of support from the international community.

In late March, Foreign Affairs Minister Bernier announced that in addition to Canada’s regular contribution to UN peacekeeping, that we will contribute an additional $40 million to the UNAMID mission, plus additional funds for humanitarian assistance and for peacekeeping in Southern Sudan. This step is welcome, and is the result of the concerns and actions of people like you, all across the country. At the same time, the situation remains dire. Canada can and must do more.

Take action
Click here to view or print the letter to Prime Minister Harper. You can print this letter now, or add your own personal changes first. Don’t forget to add 4 teaspoons of rice, lentils or beans to the envelope!

Learn more
View the World Food Programme’s recent announcement
Read the latest report to the security council on the situation in Darfur
Learn more about the UNAMID peacekeeping mission