The price of bread in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, has been reduced, thanks to support from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to local bakeries.
More than 100 bakeries in El Geneina Locality received the NRC’s financial support to cover the cost of wheat flour partially. The subsidy has seen prices of bread slashed from 100 to 50 pounds.
Abdel Hafeez Mohammed Abdallah Hamed, the head of the bakers’ union in the state, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that NRC covered 50 percent of the cost of bread production.
This means that the organization covered the cost of 25 kilograms of wheat flour for every 50-kilogram bag.
Mohammed said the project aims to reduce the burden of the cost of living on residents following the past wars in the West Darfur region.
“I visited the bakeries on Thursday and encountered a student who wanted to buy a loaf of bread for one hundred pounds, but she was given two loavs of bread. Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn’t contain her emotions and ululated,” stated Abdullah.
Abdullah, however, appealed for more support to cushion residents from the harsh economic conditions.
“I noticed crowds at the bakeries because citizens have found an alternative,” he said.
The Norwegian Refugee Council is considered one of the most supportive and influential organizations in West Darfur. It implemented the El Geneina-Adre road project linking Sudan and Chad to facilitate relief distribution and movement of aid workers.
The organization also supports the youth and humanitarian projects in the state.