Aircraft are circling over South Sudan. During the bitter years of war that led to the birth of this state in 2011 they would have been carrying bombs; now their holds carry aid. It is aid the country badly needs. According to the United Nations 3.8 million people will need help by the end of the year. The civil war that erupted in December 2013 between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar has left 1.1 million people internally displaced. A further 405,600 have fled to neighbouring countries. The rains have come and planting should be taking place. Instead people are cowering in United Nations bases, refugee camps in Ethiopia or living with relatives as best they can. The World Food Programme began a major air operation in South Sudan in March to provide food for people displaced and affected by conflict in parts of the country inaccessible by road, and to resupply isolated refugee camps. Now that the rains are here the need is even more pressing. In the last four months specially equipped aeroplanes have completed more than 1,000 airdrop flights, depositing more than 3,000 metric tons of food. But this is surely a [...]
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