Yomi Omogbeja (13/11/2004)

Life has not always been rosy for Paul Tergat.

The Marathon world record holder and World Food Programme (WFP) Ambassador against Hunger, received food aid as a child in the Kenya's Rift Valley.

Tergat knows from personal experience how difficult it is for children to concentrate at school on an empty stomach, as he grew up in a family of 17 children on the drought-ridden shores of Lake Baringo, one of the lakes of the arid Rift Valley in northern Kenya.

Although he was one of the lucky ones who had a place at school, as a young boy he often had to attend classes hungry.

But his life changed at age of eight, when WFP started distributing free school meals in the district where he lives.

It was from these dinners that Tergat gained the energy to run the three mile trek from his home to the Riwo Primary School and back again - and thus kickstarted his spectacular athletic career.

"I got a steaming plate of maize and beans, which was beyond my wildest dreams," he recollects.

"That food went a long way to give me health, strength and the stomach to scale the heights of endurance.

"Without it, I don't know if I would have achieved what I have achieved today. "

Making a difference

Tergat, 35, named WFP Ambassador against Hunger in January 2004, is now using the platform of international athletics, to raise awareness of WFP's school feeding programme.

In 2002, WFP fed 15.6 million children in 64 countries; the Agency aims to reach 32 million children by the end of 2005 and 50 million by 2007.

But, in the short term, WFP's school feeding programmes are plagued by funding shortages, particularly in Chad, Colombia, Haiti and Gambia.

WFP executive director James T. Morris said: "Paul is a natural advocate for the agency.

"Few people are better qualified to explain how food aid can transform the lives of the world's 300 million chronically hungry children.

"It is a wonderful thing when people like Paul dedicate a part of their lives to help give kids a chance."

On a recent two-day visit to southern Sudan, Paul saw firsthand how the agency's food aid is making a difference in the humanitarian crisis.

Sudan Food airdrop

He recalls his experiences in his dairy: "We arrive in Lokichoggio at about 10.15am. It's a strange place. A small frontier village in the far north of Kenya, that has been turned into a sprawling logistics HQ for the humanitarian operation in southern Sudan.

"During the security briefing, the Fijian security officer keeps reminding us that he is always talking about the 'worst case scenarios'.

"Among many new tips, I now know that if my car gets stuck in a mined area my best option is to climb back over the roof and retrace the tyre tracks to safety.

"We were planning for lunch, but I can't turn down an opportunity to join a WFP flight to airdrop food aid into Sudan.

"After a mad rush to collect video cameras, three of us board a giant Hercules C-130 bound for the tiny settlement of Poktap in Jonglei province. It's all very routine for the five-man crew already on their third food drop of the day.

"By pure chance, the plane's loadmaster turns out to be a former colleague of mine in the Kenyan air force. We catch-up to pass the hour's flying time to Poktap.

"Suddenly he disappears, only to return a few minutes later carrying a harness and wearing a broad smile ‘This will stop you falling out the back of the plane,’ he says.

"The plane is over Poktap. Actually it feels as though I am over Poktap. The plane's huge back doors are wide open and all I can see is the savannah below me.

"In a matter of one, maybe two seconds, over eight tonnes of food sacks hurtle past me and plunge into the gaping green void.

"I've run in front of 100,000 people at the Olympics, but this is adrenalin of a different sort. Terrifying; yet somehow humbling.

"As we circle back to review our handwork, we see bags of food aid littered on the ground - spot on the drop zone.

"Our crew's mission is accomplished, but, as we fly back to Loki, it occurred to me that the people of Poktap would never meet the men who delivered their life-saving food supplies.

'Mines and guns everywhere'

"You can't 'get' southern Sudan until you see it for yourself. Sudan is just across the border from my home country, but time seems to have forgotten this place.

"The only signs of modern development are the worst: guns. They are everywhere, especially among the young men and boys looking after their cattle. Automatic weapons are slung across shoulders, where once there was only a wooden stick.

"At Kapoeta, I was introduced to a group of South Africans who are carrying out the hazardous job of clearing the village of mines.

"Mines are everywhere. As both sides in the war advanced and retreated during battles for the town, they laid mine after mine.

"Two newly discovered anti-tank mines are exploded while I shelter in one of the South African's Caspir trucks. The detonation is massive, thudding into our chests and sending debris high into the air. It's hard to imagine anyone within 100 metres surviving such a blast.

"WFP cameraman Casey Kauffman asked me to change into my training kit so that he can film me on a gentle jog through Kapoeta.

"The stretch of road we use is flanked by bombed out buildings and rusting tanks. It's a surreal experience, a long way from the streets of Athens and last summer's Olympic marathon run.

"When I train in Kenya, I can run pretty much wherever I want; in Kapoeta, to leave the road could mean the end of my career or even, my life. It's overwhelmingly sad to understand the limits of life in a place haunted by landmines.

" Back on the road for the border, we are travelling with a UN security officer and it is his job to make sure we are back in Loki before nightfall. No one takes any unnecessary risks in this part of the world.

"Casey needs a few extra takes on our return. As the sun sets and I battle to get through my lines, I suddenly realise how exhausted I am.

"It's been a long two days - not as physically demanding as training for the marathon, but draining in other less definable ways.

"But the suffering of southern Sudan's landmine victims puts all else into perspective.

"My legs have been the making of my life. That the evil of some should force others to live without them is a tragedy which should make us all angry,"he added.