JUBA, South Sudan, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- More than 30 tons of wheat was dropped by air for refugees in parts of South Sudan, the executive director with the World Food Program said.
WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin arrived Monday in the region as part of a visit that includes a stop in South Sudan. She said food supplies were flown from Ethiopia in an effort to meet the food needs for more than 100,000 people in South Sudan.
"I am pleased to announce that the United Nations World Food Program has begun air drops of urgently needed food to refugees in South Sudan's Upper Nile state," she said in a statement.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace agreement. The country is among the poorest in the world, however, and lingering regional conflict is complicating humanitarian relief efforts.
A driver employed by the WFP was killed in early August while working in the restive Sudanese state of South Kordofan.
WFP, in early August, said it was "pulling out all the stops" in its effort to deliver food assistance to South Sudan.
