Finland Supports WFP’s Cash And Vouchers For Displaced And Refugees In Sudan

This new contribution of US$3.46 million will assist 330,360 internally displaced people and refugees who are currently receiving cash and vouchers in camps in Darfur in western Sudan and in Kassala state in central and eastern Sudan.  

WFP first introduced vouchers in central and eastern Sudan in 2009 to assist former combatants under a Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Programme. Since then, the programme has expanded into seven states across Sudan, and will benefit a total of 660,000 people in 2015.  

"Finland is strongly committed to WFP’s work. The exceptionally difficult current humanitarian situation has increased the need for assistance to an unprecedented level, also in Sudan. WFP plays an indispensable role in the humanitarian crisis in Sudan to meet the needs of affected population", says Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä.

In 2014, Finland provided US$1.36 million in support of WFP’s emergency operation in Sudan and subsequently contributed an additional US$3.46 million.

“We are grateful to the government of Finland for supporting us early in the year, because it enables us to pursue our activities, as planned, from the outset. This un-earmarked cash contribution is particularly helpful for WFP Sudan as it gives us the flexibility to fund programmes where there is currently a gap and where people’s needs would otherwise be unmet,” said WFP Sudan Country Director Adnan Khan.

“Since we began the cash and vouchers programme, we have seen it boost the local economy through creating demand for local farmers’ produce. We have also seen how this support has made families happy because vouchers allow them to buy food that is to their taste,” Khan said.  

Since 2010, the Finnish government has contributed almost US$12 million in support of WFP programmes in Sudan, over half of which was used to support cash and voucher activities in Sudan.  Currently, Finland ranks as WFP Sudan’s fourth largest bilateral donor.

Sudan remains one of WFP’s largest and most complex operations, providing food assistance to people suffering from conflict, displacement and chronic under-nourishment in Darfur, as well as in the east and border areas to the south.

For the first half of 2015, WFP plans to assist 3.7 million people across Sudan – 2.7 million in the conflict-affected region of Darfur – through general food distributions, food for training, food for work, school feeding and nutrition programmes to prevent and treat moderate acute malnutrition among women and children.

WFP also plans, during the first six months of the year, to assist a total of 660,000 people across the country through the cash and voucher programme. Following this, WFP will focus on activities to help affected communities rebuild and recover from the impact of conflict.  

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Amor Almagro, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 183248001 (ext. 2114), Mob. +249 912174853

Abdulaziz Abdulmomin, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 183248001 (ext. 2123), Mob. +249 912167055