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DATE=11/30/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=W-F-P / U-S / SUDAN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256667
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The U-N World Food Program, W-F-P, says a U-S 
measure that would allow direct food aid to rebel 
soldiers in Southern Sudan could put U-N aid workers 
and their humanitarian operation at risk.  Lisa 
Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT:  The World Food Program says it is concerned 
that the U-N "Operation Lifeline" in southern Sudan 
could be jeopardized by the U-S decision to support 
the rebel movement.  
The food aid agency says its humanitarian program has 
functioned well because it operates in an impartial 
manner.  It says food is distributed to all victims on 
both the government and rebel sides of the conflict. 
W-F-P spokeswoman Christiane Berthiaume says she does 
not know how the United States intends to deliver aid 
to the southern Sudanese rebels.
            /// BERTHIAUME ACT ONE ///
      If, let us say they use aircraft, that could be 
      dangerous for us because we could become also 
      kind of military targets.  The same thing for 
      distribution on the ground.  If the Americans 
      distribute the food in areas near our centers, 
      that could be dangerous also. 
            /// END ACT ///
The World Food Program distributes eight-thousand-tons 
of food every month to more than one-point-two-million 
people in Sudan.  About 70-percent of this food aid is 
brought in by air.  
/// OPT ///  The United States is the biggest 
contributor to this humanitarian program.  This year, 
the United States donated 98-million dollars, which 
was 70-percent of W-F-P's financial needs.  /// END 
OPT ///
Ms Berthiaume says civilians caught up in Sudan's long 
civil war are vulnerable and continue to need support.
            /// BERTHIAUME ACT TWO ///
      In 1998, we had a huge and dramatic famine in 
      Bahr-El-Gazal.  Many thousands of people died 
      because of lack of food and because we did not 
      have access to this area for weeks.  The 
      situation has improved.  But, these people 
      really live on the edge of a knife.  The 
      situation is very very precarious. 
            /// END ACT ///
Ms. Berthiaume says a situation of famine could recur 
in southern Sudan if the W-F-P is forced to stop its 
food distribution to the many thousands in need.
/// UNVOICED OPT ///  The Clinton administration had 
not sought the provision to send food to the Sudan 
rebels, it was contained in a budget bill passed by 
congress.  A Clinton spokesman said Monday that while 
the President now has the ability to assist the 
rebels, there little reason to believe he will 
exercise the authority.  /// END OPT ///
   (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/RAE
30-Nov-1999 11:16 AM EDT (30-Nov-1999 1616 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.