Humanitarian Assistance

ROME - U.N. food agencies said Wednesday that 166 million people in 22 countries suffer chronic hunger or difficulty finding enough to eat as a result of what they called protracted food crises.

JUBA, Sudan - The army of Southern Sudan has been looting food convoys and carrying out other attacks on aid groups, officials of those groups alleged, and a top military officer warned Tuesday that the humanitarian groups could be expelled if the complaints get too "harsh." The aid community in Southern Sudan documented 80 incidents of obstruction, vehicle hijackings or harassment of aid staff by southern troops since February.

JUBA, Sudan - Aid officials say Southern Sudanese troops are behind a spike in attacks on humanitarian workers, including the looting of food.

JUBA, Sudan - The government of Southern Sudan wants 1.5 million southerners who fled to the country's north during the country's long civil war to return home before a crucial referendum that could split the oil-rich south from the north.

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations urged Sudanese authorities on Tuesday to allow humanitarian organizations access to a Darfur refugee camp which has been closed to aid agencies for more than a week following an outbreak of violence.