Sudan denies a nearby famine
Sudan, Local, 1/12/2001

Sudan on Thursday denied it is facing the dangers of a famine, considering the international reports that noted such a danger as aiming at practicing political pressure on Sudan.

The Sudanese vice- President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha accused in a press conference held on Thursday the Western organizations which he abstained from mentioning in trying to pressuring Sudan to force it to declare the state of starvation before giving the aids. He said: " some talked about a famine in Sudan," He questioned " for whose interest such sayings are made?" He added "Some are using this issue to pressure us."

The statements of the Sudanese vice President came in reply to the declaration made by the deputy chairman of the UN world food program in Sudan Nicolas Sweinjwa who said that the drastic drought in Western Sudan and area in its south threatens at least 900,000 of starvation.

Sweinjwa explained that after a visit to that region " wells have dried because of the shortage of rainfall in Northern Darfour and water level is very low." The WFP ( World Food program) said that 700,000 persons in West Sudan and 200,000 in the North will be in need of food aids by the fall of May which marks the beginning of " a hunger gap" that will last until September because of the drought.

Previous Stories:
  20 persons killed in attack on mosque in Sudan   (12/9/2000)
  Relief flights to Sudan continue   (12/4/2000)
  A Sudanese helicopter crashed   (12/2/2000)

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