Norway provides $9m for humanitarian crisis in Sudan

June 30, 2011 (JUBA) – The Norwegian government announced last week it will provide nine million US dollars of humanitarian relief to Sudan less than two weeks before North and South of the country split into to different nations.

South Sudan is set to become Africa’s newest nation after its population overwhelmingly voted for separation in a January referendum. The vote was a key part of Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended war between the North and South of the country.

However, over the past few months, nearly 200,000 people have reportedly been forced to flee, and hundreds have been killed either in clashes involving the Southern army and rebels as well as conflicts over resources in the region.

Areas such as the contested oil-producing Abyei region and the Northern state of South Kordofan bordering South Sudan remain unstable as a result of fighting between the Northern army and former rebels alligned to South Sudan. Ten of thousands of civilians have been displaced.

“The situation for the civilian population in the border areas is extremely serious. There are worrying reports of attacks on civilians. The Sudanese authorities have a responsibility to ensure access for humanitarian relief. Norway is now providing additional funds to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population. We also encourage other donor countries to assist in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan,” Norway’s foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Stored said in statement on 28 June.

Erik Solheim, Norway’s minister for environment and international development also underscored the need for humanitarian relief in Sudan, saying his government remains committed towards providing support for pre-positioning food and other emergency supplies in case the situation for people on the ground deteriorates.

Sudan is reportedly among the top recipient countries of Norwegian aid. This year alone, the Norwegian government has reportedly provided $43m to meet humanitarian needs in Africa’s largest country.

Norway, according to the statement, will allocate 60 percent of its additional contribution to the Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund; a scheme established to target funds to the most critical humanitarian needs through humanitarian projects run by the UN and partner agencies.

The remaining money, it further says, will be disbursed for measures such as capacity-building of the South Sudanese Red Cross and providing clean water and sanitary facilities to displaced people and vulnerable groups.

(ST)