Getting Food To Those In Darfur Becomes Far More Difficult

Can Tran March 16, 2008

The World Food Programme(WFP) explains in an interview with BBC that it has become far more difficult to get food aid to those in Darfur. The major factor in this issue is the security situation which has not improved. One example of the worsening situation happened in at least 12 months.

Within the last twelve months, over fifty trucks bringing food aid were hijacked by bandits. At least thirteen of the drivers are still missing as a result. With the fighting and violence increasing in Darfur, millions need the help from the United Nations in order to get the needed food. The hijackings of trucks and kidnapping of drivers has put a damper to WFP operations and took a severe beating to its funds. It is unknown who is responsible for hijacking the trucks.

The WFP might be forced to halt its operation in the near future.

So far, the issue of Darfur has been a major one in the past two years.

US President George W. Bush said that he did not want to send US troops to another predominantly Muslim nation. He said that something has to be done about the violence in Darfur. However, he defended his decision not to send troops into Sudan.

When asked about the possibility of boycotting the Olympics in Beijing, Bush said that the United States will not boycott it. He said that he would remind Chinese President Hu Jintao who was recently reelected that there is more he can do to end the violence in Darfur.

Asides what is going on in Tibet, the issue of Darfur has been a major woe surrounding the Olympics in Beijing.

Recently, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has resigned from his post as a creative director for the Olympics in Beijing. During his resignation, he cited the violence taking place in Darfur. He said that China was not doing enough.

Last year during the CNN Democratic debates, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a former Democratic hopeful explained that China is Sudan’s number one customer in purchasing oil. He explained that China controls Sudan’s economy as a result. When the candidates were asked about Sudan, Richardson gave the suggestion that the United States threaten to boycott the Olympics as a means to pressure China to do more to end the violence and killing in Darfur.

The issues of Tibet and Darfur will probably be the major woes surrounding the Olympics in Beijing.

The International Olympic Committee urged the world not to boycott the Olympics in Beijing due to what is going on in Tibet.

Former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said that relations with China must not sour because of Darfur. He expressed worry that a possible boycott of the Beijing Olympics over Darfur could bring the world back to the Cold War.

He did say that China cannot stop the problem in Sudan on its own.