September 3, 2015 – The Italian Development Cooperation has started a new project with FAO. The action will take place in East Sudan, and the Italian government will participate with a contribution of €600.000. The program, Integrated Food Security and Livelihoods Project (IFSLP), will focus on 7,500 families (about 45,000 people) in four locations: Telkok and Rural Aroma in the State of Kassala, and Sinkat and Derdub in the Red Sea State. These areas are experiencing the highest rates of malnutrition and food insecurity in Sudan and the region. “Despite the protracted crisis situation, poor rural communities of eastern Sudan, in particular those the state of the Red Sea, are not among the beneficiaries of humanitarian aid under the Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan” explained Dr. Abdi Jama, Director of FAO-Sudan. “We are grateful to the Italian Development Cooperation for its generous support to FAO and our project partners. With their contribution, we can meet the urgent needs of these communities, also guaranteeing them a way to rebuild their lives.” Immediately after the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Italian Development Cooperation concentrated its action in eastern Sudan, in close cooperation with the local authorities and communities, to encourage development and reduce poverty, creating projects in different sectors, including those of health and rural development. “We are aware of the tough situation in the states of Kassala and the Red Sea. This is why improving the living conditions of rural communities is a priority for the Italian Development Cooperation. We are also very happy to strengthen our collaboration with FAO in combating food insecurity and malnutrition in Eastern Sudan,” said the Italian Ambassador to Sudan, Fabrizio Lobasso. The contribution comes as a result of the joint work between the Italian Development Cooperation and FAO, which aims to expand cooperation and synergies in the field of agricultural and rural development to improve the living conditions of poor rural people in Sudan.
