8 April 2015 - More than 250,000 South Sudanese affected by conflict are receiving life-saving food transported through Sudan, according to a joint statement issued today by the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners.

The statement was released by the Joint Technical Committee on the Passage of Humanitarian Assistance from Sudan to South Sudan, which comprises representatives of the Sudanese and South Sudanese governments as well as WFP.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Sudan and South Sudan in July 2014 allowing passage of humanitarian assistance from Sudan to South Sudan for six months and extended in December 2014 for a similar period.

“The good coordination and collaboration between the two governments has enabled WFP to deliver 5,917 metric tons of food assistance, donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in a smooth and successful manner,” the statement noted.

It said food has been distributed to nearly 267,000 people, mainly in Maban, Melut, Renk and Wadakona in the northern part of Upper Nile State.

Following the signing of the MoU, the Joint Technical Committee held weekly meetings, and made two field visits to Kosti, White Nile State, for follow-up and close monitoring to ensure smooth and successful management of the operation.

“To deliver the urgently needed food assistance ahead of the approaching rainy season, which will render many roads impassable, WFP has ramped up its logistics capacity by contracting an additional 60 trucks with the capacity to deliver a total of 2,700 metric tons food,” the statement said.

An estimated 16,200 metric tons of food assistance would be delivered from April to June by eight convoys of 25 trucks per month, it added.

The Joint Technical Committee expressed gratitude to authorities from both governments, WFP Sudan, the White Nile state government and local communities for efforts towards the operation’s success.