KHARTOUM, SUDAN — The World Food Program is providing Sudan with 200,000 tonnes of wheat, the Sudan Tribune newspaper reported.

Sudan will pay for the imported wheat in local currency. The country, which is facing a shortage of hard currency, will save more than $50 million.

The WFP will use the local currency to provide cash assistance to the Sudanese so they may buy essentials from local markets.

A successful harvest of domestic wheat is expected to cover the nation’s needs for six months, the newspaper reported.

Initially, Sudan was to receive $3 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to cover petroleum products, wheat and agricultural sector products. The countries stopped their aid to Sudan at the end of 2019, the newspaper said.