Darfur banditry 'may cut rations'

Some 2m Darfuris live in camps dependent on food aid

An upsurge in banditry in war-torn Darfur is threatening food supplies to the Sudanese region, the UN has warned.

The World Food Programme says so far this year 22 trucks have been stolen and 18 drivers have gone missing.

"Our main trucking companies now refuse to send in more vehicles," said a UN spokesman, adding rations may be cut in parts of Darfur by mid-February.

The deployment of a UN-African peace force has been delayed, with only 9,000 of 26,000 personnel on the ground.

On Tuesday, human rights group Amnesty International called on Sudan to stop obstructing the deployment of the international peacekeeping force which took over from the African Union on 31 December.

WFP faces a rapid depletion of stocks and the inability to pre-position food ahead of the rainy season WFP's Kenro Oshidari

The group said security was deteriorating, most of the camps for displaced people were awash with weapons, and young Darfuris were increasingly angry and frustrated.

The Sudanese government has refused to allow non-African troops to join the mission and has made a series of demands that have the effect of hampering operations of the force.

Some 2m people have fled their homes to live in camps since the conflict started five years ago.

Attacks on trucks carrying WFP supplies, abductions of drivers and trucks, looting and beatings of WFP-contracted drivers to intimidate them have increased in recent months, the UN said in a statement.

"Without these deliveries, WFP faces a rapid depletion of stocks and the inability to pre-position food ahead of the rainy season, which is due to start in May," the WFP's Kenro Oshidari said.