03 December 2004

(Will go to feed some 3 million displaced by conflict in Darfur)

The United States announced December 3 that it will make available 200,000 metric tons of wheat from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, an emergency reserve, to relieve suffering and avert famine in Sudan, where continuing conflict in the Darfur region threatens millions with starvation.

The additional food aid, announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will meet the needs of some 3 million Sudanese over a five-month period. It will be distributed mainly through the U.N World Food Program.

The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust is a food reserve administered by the secretary of agriculture to meet emergency humanitarian food needs in developing countries. Originally established in 1980 as the Food Security Wheat Reserve, the reserve was renamed in 1998 as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 reauthorized the Emerson Trust through 2007.

Following is the text of the USDA press release:
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[United States Department of Agriculture
December 3, 2004
Release No. 0512.04

USDA Contact: Julie Quick (202) 720-4623
USAID Contact: Roslyn Matthews (202) 712-0093]

BUSH ADMINISTRATION MAKES HUMANITARIAN FOOD RELIEF AVAILABLE FOR SUDAN

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2004 - The Bush Administration today announced that it is further responding to the emergency food situation in Sudan by utilizing the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. The United States will make available 200,000 metric tons of wheat from the Trust to relieve suffering and avert famine in this African country.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman and U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew S. Natsios announced the release for emergency food assistance for Sudan. Conflict in the Darfur region threatens millions of people with starvation.

"We are pleased that we can use the abundance from our nation's farms to help alleviate suffering in Sudan," said Veneman. "These steps will provide relief to those in need. The United States is the largest donor addressing the serious food shortages in Africa. The President has made it clear that whatever other challenges and obligations the United States has at home and abroad, global hunger remains a U.S. priority."

"Through this release of the Emerson Trust, the United States will provide urgently needed food to meet the needs of 2½ to three million Sudanese over a five-month period who are displaced inside Darfur, or have fled to neighboring Chad," said Natsios.

The wheat will be shipped as emergency food relief under P.L. 480, Title II, a program administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development. It will be distributed mainly through the World Food Program and is expected to arrive over the next few months.

The Emerson Trust was established as an emergency reserve to allow the United States to respond to unanticipated food crises, such as the current situation in parts of Africa. The reserve is being tapped because U.S. food aid programs this fiscal year are fully allocated to meet critical needs in Sudan and other parts of the world. Use of the reserve will help ensure that commodities will be available to respond to urgent needs in Sudan without undercutting U.S. food aid commitments elsewhere.

The Trust is administered under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. It was reauthorized through 2007 by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. Prior to this release, the reserve held 1.6 million tons of wheat. Up to 4 million tons in any combination of wheat, rice, corn or sorghum can be held in the reserve.

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