By Andrew Heavens
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - The United Nations on Sundaythreatened to suspend emergency food deliveries to parts ofSudan's Darfur region after a surge of hijackings and banditattacks.
The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) said "relentless"attacks on its food convoys, workers and drivers were pushingstaff to the limit.
"Should these attacks continue, the situation will becomeintolerable -- to the point that we will have to suspendoperations in some areas of Darfur," the WFP's DeputyRepresentative in Sudan, Monika Midel, said.
WFP spokesman Rachid Jaafar told Reuters the agency had notdecided which delivery routes would be cut. "But large numberswill be affected," he said.
The WFP currently delivers food to more than 3 millionpeople in Darfur, he added.
The agency put out its statement after three trucks andfour staff were hijacked in south Darfur last Wednesday. Thevehicles were recovered on Saturday and the workers rescued.
It said more than 100 vehicles had already been hijackedthis year and many more shot at and robbed.
A total of 43 drivers and 69 trucks were still missing itsaid, adding that drivers were now refusing to drive certainroutes.
Law and order has collapsed in Darfur where more than fiveyears of fighting has killed 200,000 and driven more than 2.5million from their homes, international experts say.
Rebel groups that took up arms against the Khartoumgovernment in early 2003 have since splintered into numerouscompeting factions.
Aid groups working in the world's largest humanitarianoperation say they are also regularly plagued by small armedgangs and bandits, targeting their vehicles, staff andcompounds.
The WFP cut its Darfur food rations in May, blaming a risein attacks. The agency said almost 50,000 people received nofood aid at all in July because of security problems.
Sunday's announcement came days after German aid groupWelthungerhilfe, also known as German Agro Action, suspendedfood deliveries to 450,000 people in North Darfur after threatsagainst its staff.
(Editing by Robert Hart)
