KHARTOUM, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Sunday said it has resumed its school meals scheme in Sudan's Blue Nile State for more than 7,000 students.
The WFP suspended the program in September 2011 due to insecurity and lack of access to the students.
"I share the joy of children in Blue Nile who will now be having healthy meals, which we will provide in their schools," said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Sudan Representative and Country Director, in a press release.
"School meals not only prevent hunger among children during the school day, but also enhance nutrition and help improve school performance," he noted.
Providing school meals is the WFP's longest-running program in Sudan. Since 1969, it has been assisting millions of school children through the program.
The WFP currently provides school meals to almost one million children in Sudan, more than half of whom come from displaced and other vulnerable families in the Darfur region.
The Blue Nile State has been witnessing armed clashes between the Sudanese army and rebels of the People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector since 2011.
The state enjoys a strategic geographical location, and is rich in natural resources. It is also home to Al-Rusaires, the biggest electricity producing Dam in Sudan.
