World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Abu Shouk camp in the North Darfur capital town of El Fasher has been home to thousands of internally displaced persons since it was set up in April 2004. In 2011, WFP introduced cash voucher assistance to thousands of Abu Shouk residents, who can now get fresh produce which could not be included in conventional food rations. With ECHO’s support this year, WFP plans to provide over 600,000 conflict-affected people in Darfur with cash vouchers. Voucher assistance also helps boost the local economy by creating demand for local produce.

Families can use the coupons to redeem any of the 14 food items available for exchange at the 24 mobile stores in the camp participating in the programme. Sun-dried okra and tomato are a favourite as these are main ingredients for a local dish, mulla.

 

A voucher has a cash value of 23 Sudanese pounds (approximately US$5.8). The number of coupons corresponds to the number of members registered on each family’s ration card. Ground nut oil is one of the 14 food items available.
 

Sugar, salt and lentils are also available.
 

There are 24 local traders currently participating in the vouchers programme. Arjua Fadil Ali is one of them. She is proud of being the only woman trader.
 

Cash vouchers enable camp residents to get sorghum, millet and wheat all of which are the most important food commodities in Sudan.
 

Two displaced women walk back home carrying food items that they were able to redeem through cash vouchers.
 

Women await their turn to collect their vouchers. For two weeks of each month, vouchers are distributed to the camp’s residents.

Sorghum is one of the 14 food items available for exchange with vouchers.