International food aid meant for consumption by displaced people in Awerial in Lakes state and other places is being sold for profit in the Jonglei state capital Bor.

Traders and consumers say food aid can be found in Bor market being sold at a premium to internally displaced people (IDPs) who are supposed to receive the food for free as well as to others.

Smile Again Africa Development Organization (SAADO), an aid organization operating in South Sudan, has strongly condemned the act of selling food aid to IDPs.

A staff member of SAADO said the sale of relief food indicates that the beneficiaries are not actually in need of food aid if they sell it in the market instead of consuming it for themselves.

“We are disappointed because we don’t look at these gifts or this food that we normally give just as a form of food," said the SAADO staff. "We look at it as a sweat that a lot of donors have donated so that [IDPs] can have something to put on the table, so whenever they sell most of us get disappointed."

"We give them [food] for their own consumption," he stressed.

According to the aid worker, people receiving food aid are selling it in order to buy onions, milk, and sugar which are not provided to them.

Profiting off aid

According to those involved in the trade, traders are buying free food aid at distibution centers then reselling at higher prices in Bor markets.

Trader Thon Jok confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that he bought his sacks of sorghum and tins of oil all branded with the name of "USAID." Such products are usually marked "Not to be sold."

Jok said he bought his food in Awerial in Lakes state where food was distributed to IDPs for free. There he bought at a cheap price of 140 SSP per sack of sorghum. He said he sells for a profit in Bor town across the River Nile in Jonglei at 250 SSP.

Tens of thousands of mostly Dinka people settled in Awerial after fleeing war in Jonglei in December 2013. They have remained in Lakes despite Bor and surrounding areas remaining under government control for the last sixteen months.

Reports say many traders in rebel-held parts of Jonglei State come to Bor and buy sorghum and take them to the hungry people in those areas. The price of a sack doubles on their sale in those areas, according to reports. It is unclear why food is not being distributed to these hungry people in rebel-held areas, forcing them to buy food.

SAADO blamed the government for not prohibiting sale of relief food in markets.

Jonglei state governor John Koang Nyuon has denounced the sale of the food aid in the markets during numerous public speeches, saying the act may prompt relief agencies to cut their support to hunger stricken people in the state.

“There are stores here full of food but it is sold out but if it is said, it is termed as politics. But the civilians will be the ones to suffer,” Koang said during one recent address.

Photos: Food relief being resold in Bor market.