CAIRO, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned on Thursday that the ongoing clashes in Sudan would harm the Sudanese and Arab food security.
Aboul-Gheit gave the warning during a meeting in Cairo with Ibrahim El Dukhiri, the director-general of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) based in Sudan, according to a statement released by the Arab League. AOAD is a specialized organization functioning under the umbrella of the Arab League.
Given the potential threat, Aboul-Gheit called for immediate international and Arab action to rescue the agriculture season in conflict-stricken Sudan.
The two sides also discussed means of securing trade and supply chains of grains and food products in Sudan, and reviewed a plan aimed at enabling Sudanese farmers to sell their crops domestically and export them to neighboring countries.
The clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted on April 15, hindering the agricultural projects and the transportation of commodities, and raising crop prices in the country. ■
