Brockenhurst man David Morton has been separated f

Brockenhurst man David Morton has been separated from
his family after being sent to the former Yugoslavia to help
in the UN operation to get desperately needed food supplies
to the people of the region.

As emergency food co-ordinator and director of operations
for the World Food Programme, David’s job has taken him to some
of the most harrowing areas on earth.

But this latest job is different in one special respect –
his wife, Naomi and their two children, Deborah, 15, and Justin,
five, have had to remain back in the UK at the family’s home in
Brockenhurst, Hampshire.

On many of his other postings – which often run into
months – the family have travelled with him.

But former Yugoslavia
is considered to dangerous for operatives families to go along.

David has worked for the WFP for over 20 years.

His work involves organising food aid for drought or emergency
situations.

The former Yugoslavian operation is funded mainly by the
EEC, but for others ‘you get all kinds of donors.

‘
Speaking as he flew from the Croatian capital of Zagreb to
a port on the southern Adriatic coast, David said: ‘I started
off as a volunteer working in Africa, from there I eventually
joined the UN.

‘
David was heading for meetings with fellow WPF staff, but
in particular delicate negotiations with local officials in
an effort to secure warehouses and facilities for receiving
food shipments in the port.

Store-houses for supplies are an essential part of the
humanitarian aid operation.

In the south the aid is trucked
in by road to Bosnia, including the besieged capital Sarajevo.

And the nearer the pick-up point for the supplies the better.

A sea accessed site also facilitates the movement oflarger
cargoes.

Flying along the beautiful Adriatic coastline, the sun
bursting into the small plane, it was hard to believe that
a savage and senseless slaughter was being enacted below.

The lie to the peace was apparent when, through the cloudless
sky, the pilot pointed out the billowing smoke from artillery fire
and explosions around Zadar.

David recalled that as a student he had holidayed in the old
Yugoslavia.

‘The realisation that the places we went to then are now
in a state war.

.

.

.

.

seeing people in the elegant main square
of Zagreb reduced top begging to survive.

.

.

.

.

I have been very
shocked by what has happened here.

‘
Softly spoken David explained that the WFP headquarters make
the first approach to potential donor countries – ‘they do most of
the persuading.

‘
David then makes further representations to their ambassadors.

‘I try to persuade them to make a donation.

We identify
what we think is needed and then let the donor community know
and encourage them to pledge it.

‘We then arrange delivery, timing and the correct delivery
point.

‘
Other countries where David has worked include Ethiopia,
the drought in Southern Africa and the Thai-Cambodia border.

David was reunited with his family for the New Year.

ENDS