Most U.S. food assistance to Sudan is "in-kind" aid -- food that is grown by farmers in the United States, purchased on the open market, then shipped to Sudan. Voucher programs, on the other hand, offer an alternative and complementary approach that gives families access to foods they are already familiar with and boosts local economic activity. Recently, USAID awarded its first grant for a food voucher program in Sudan, a landmark initiative that will nourish hungry families by lowering the cost of life-saving foods already available in local markets.
Greetings from Kampala, Uganda, where I am attending the African Union Summit. I just completed a trip to Sudan, including stops in Khartoum, Darfur and Juba for meetings with the AU/UN, the CPA parties, and various experts on education, environment, and agro-pastoral issues in Darfur.
In El Fasher, I continued my conversations on these themes with UNAMID officials, local government officials, civil society leaders, other UN agencies, and NGOs. I have also used these meetings to underscore the absolute necessity of improving civilian protection and security in Darfur before large-scale… more »
About the Author: Major General (Ret) Scott Gration serves as the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan.
Just six months to go until the referenda on Southern Sudan's independence and the status of Abyei. As the international community turns its attention to planning for January 9, 2011, I believe continued engagement on Darfur is as important and relevant as it ever was. The President's Strategy calls for a holistic approach to resolving conflict in Sudan, and peace in Darfur remains a critical pillar of that strategy. At the same time, there is no single government, institution, or organization alone responsible for ending the Darfur conflict. Partnership and collaboration are essential to our efforts in the region, and I'm working closely with the… more »
U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 12, 2010. Special Envoy Gration said:
"Chairman Kerry, Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: I am honored by the opportunity to discuss with you today the situation in Sudan and the important challenges that lie ahead. As you noted in your invitation to testify, the coming months clearly bring a series of critical decision points for policymakers in Khartoum, Juba, neighboring capitals, and here in Washington as well. I will focus my remarks today primarily on the road to the referenda in January 2011, the post-2011 planning and capacity-building that need to continue at an accelerated pace, and issues of peace, accountability, and security for Darfur.
"Prior to January 2011 there are a number of tasks to be undertaken in a short time period.… more »
This past week was a time to reflect and a time to listen. Since the rollout of the U.S. strategy on Sudan, we have been charging full speed ahead to implement the strategy and achieve progress in Sudan. This past week, however, was a time for us to take a moment to reflect. I met with leading Sudan activists, operational NGOs, and representatives from the Darfuri diaspora to continue our dialog. I also wanted to hear from them about their thoughts, ideas, and concerns about Sudan and about our efforts to implement the U.S. strategy to save lives and achieve meaningful progress on the ground.
I am surprised by the foul-mouthed comment from my Nigerian brother.The generous US help is an expression of cooperation between Sudan and…
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Mazi P. in Nigeria writes:
The UN/World should quickly provide South Sudan with Protective Buffer Zone as to avert Genocide before South Sudan Referendum, as delays, ignorance…
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May 24: Secretary Clinton and Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner will release the 2011 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices at 10:30 a.m. more »
May 23: The State Department, through its office of the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), is pleased to announce $1.5 million in funding to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to support open governance and political participation in the Middle East and North Africa. more »
![Food aid being distributed in Darfur, Sudan, 2010. [USAID Photo/ Public Domain]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_1013_sudan_food_distribution_m.jpg)
![AU and UN envoys meet with SLA leadership under a tree, Darfur, Jan. 15, 2008. [AP File Photo]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0726_darfur_m.jpg)
![Refugees ride donkeys during sand storm near El Fasher, Darfur, Sudan, Apr. 13, 2010. [AP]](http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2010_0710_darfur_refugees_m.jpg)
