KHARTOUM, March 26 (Xinhua) -- At a time when international efforts are growing to ease the impact of famine in South Sudan, Khartoum's agreement to open a new humanitarian corridor adds momentum to the ongoing relief activities and saves plenty of time and effort.
On Sunday, the Sudanese government said it agreed on opening a new corridor via El Obied, Heglig, Rubkona and Bentiu for delivery of humanitarian aid to the population affected by famine in South Sudan's Unity and Greater Bahr el Ghazal States.
Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam said Khartoum's agreement came because of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, adding that delivery of the humanitarian aid through the new corridor would begin this week.
Khartoum has also agreed to re-open the river corridor linking Kosti town in central Sudan and South Sudan's river ports, on condition that Juba returns 11 river boats seized earlier.
The newly-opened humanitarian corridor would help deliver food aid on time and reduce the reliance on airlift, which costs six to seven times as much as by river and road.
Marta Ruedas, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, welcomed on Sunday Sudan's decision to open a new humanitarian corridor to South Sudan, where 100,000 people are suffering famine amid a deepening humanitarian crisis across the country.
"By opening this cross-border corridor, the government of Sudan is showing its commitment to the people of South Sudan and further strengthening cooperation with the international community to pull South Sudan back from a widening famine that could affect another one million people," said Ruedas in a press release.
"This decision also comes at a critical time just before South Sudan's rainy season, which starts in May and usually renders these roads impassable," she added.
This week, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will deliver 11,000 tons of sorghum, which is enough to feed 300,000 people for three months, to famine-afflicted areas in South Sudan, according to the release.
At least 7.5 million people across South Sudan, almost two thirds of the population, need humanitarian assistance, WFP said.
South Sudan said earlier that about five million people are at risk of famine, which has hit two areas in Unity State and is spreading to Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The famine in South Sudan was attributed to many reasons including the civil war and collapse of the economy in the new-born state.
