EU agrees to release 60 million euros in aid to Darfur, says minister

KHARTOUM, June 16 (AFP) — The European Union (EU) will release 60 million euros (72 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to Sudan’s war-torn western region of Darfur, the Sudanese minister of international cooperation was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Thirty million euros will go towards combating famine and the other 30 million to help supply water, education and sanitary services in Darfur, Yusuf Sulayman Takanah told the daily newspaper Al Anbaa.

The European Commission has given 13.2 million euros in aid to Darfur where, according to the United Nations, at least 10,000 people have been killed since rebels rose up in February 2003, prompting an all-out assault by government forces and their Arab militia allies.

Over one million people have also been displaced by the conflict, many going to neighboring Chad where another six million euros has been allocated to help.