France contributes to humanitarian operations in Darfur

KHARTOUM, Oct 20 (AFP) — The French government has donated more than 240, 000 dollars for the provision of non-food relief items to people affected by violence in western Sudan, France’s embassy here said Monday.

The French foreign ministry granted 209,000 euros (243,000 dollars) to the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide displaced people in North and West Darfur with plastic sheeting, blankets, soap and clothing, it said.

France also committed itself to supporting development in the area, the embassy said in a press release.

The French embassy said that Paris had also contributed 140,000 euros (163, 000 dollars) to fighting yellow fever in east Equatoria and helping flood victims in eastern Kassala state.

The French ambassador, Dominique Reneaux, last week made a tour of the Darfur states to inspect the conditions of the displaced persons there.

A conflict between rebels and government forces in the Darfur region, a semi-desert region bordering Chad, has left around 3,000 people dead and another 400,000 displaced since it broke out in February, according to UN estimates.

The rebels, complaining the central government has neglected their economic plight, said Sunday that Khartoum had frequently violated a 45-day ceasefire that took effect in early September and doubted whether it would be renewed.