10 November 2014 - The first convoy of food assistance moved through Sudan to South Sudan had arrived in Upper Nile State through Sudan, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced today.

The convoy consisted of 18 trucks transporting 700 metric tons of food, which WFP said would be enough to feed about 45,000 people for a month.

Welcoming the safe arrival of the convoy, WFP also noted that it marked the opening of a humanitarian corridor to enable delivery of food assistance to South Sudan through Sudan.

“Reopening this humanitarian corridor from Sudan will help reduce our heavy reliance on costly air operations to provide assistance in conflict affected areas of South Sudan,” said WFP South Sudan Country Director Joyce Luma. “This will allow WFP and partners to reach more vulnerable people with the urgent food assistance that they need.”

Airdrops and airlifts of food are critical in sustaining food assistance to remote areas but cost six to seven times more than delivery by barge or road, the statement said.

The current cross-border operation will see WFP use trucks and river barges to deliver a total of 4,650 metric tons of food to feed around 275,000 people for one month in the northern parts of South Sudan who have been affected by the conflict.

Since the start of the crisis in South Sudan in December 2013, WFP has reached 2.5 million people with lifesaving food and nutrition assistance.