A humanitarian appeal for Sudan will be launched in Brussels today, asking donors to give more than $450 million to help 3.5 million Sudanese displaced by years of civil war.
The United Nations (UN) and the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) are joining forces to launch the 2004 Humanitarian Appeal, calling upon donor nations to provide more than €2.6 billion (three billion dollars) in assistance to sustain the lives of more than 45 million civilians affected by 21 of the world's worst crises. The launch event in Brussels will highlight needs in Sudan, Tajikistan and Uganda.
Foreign aid and support to the Sudan is more important than ever as the prospects for peace rise, according to the latest humanitarian update from the Arab state. A UN spokesman in New York said that there was rising optimism among the people of Sudan that there would soon be a peace agreement between the national government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. He said that the improving outlook made the question of support "more important than ever."
The UN Consolidated Appeal for the Sudan Assistance Program for 2004 has been designed to meet urgent humanitarian needs as well as to support transitional recovery and thereby help consolidate peace. Priorities will be to meet ongoing basic survival needs and alleviating extreme poverty and hunger as well as supporting human rights, peace building and governance. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
