The World Food Programme has begun evacuating its employees from Sudan, spokesperson Steve Taravella tells me, a move the agency was forced to take as fighting remains elevated across the country. Due to security concerns, Taravella wouldn’t provide any additional information about how they were being removed from the country or where to — or who was being included in the evacuation. (In other such recent cases, foreign nationals have been prioritized over local national staff of international organizations and their families.)
WFP suspended operations after three staffers were killed in the unrest that erupted two weeks ago, and the situation has continued to devolve.
“Our operations are still suspended. We haven’t been able to resume. And obviously we hope to,” Taravella tells me. “Right now our priority is this evacuation.”
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
