UK announces additional £15m for AU pforce in Darfur

Jan 22 2007 (LONDON) — The Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman, have today announced a further UK contribution of £15m to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).

Hilary Benn said:“Following the extension of AMIS’ mandate for six months from 1 January 2007, there is an urgent need for the international community to provide sufficient funds to support the force. The UK is fully committed to playing its part in meeting that need, and I am pleased to announce that we will provide a further £15m to help fund AMIS’ vital operations into 2007. Without AMIS in Darfur, the humanitarian situation there would be even worse, and I therefore call on other donors to join us in contributing generously to ensure that this does not happen. In particular I call on the Arab League to commit the funds it has previously pledged for support to AMIS.”

Lord Triesman said:“The UK has been a leading supporter to AMIS throughout its deployment, and this contribution of £15m comes in addition to £20m already committed in this financial year. The UK’s willingness to support AMIS sets a clear example to other partners to do the same. It will be vital that the whole International Community pulls together to keep AMIS running, so that it can continue to provide protection to the people of Darfur. The addition of UN support to the force, as agreed in Addis on 16 November, will enhance its capacity to do this, and will need to be supported by UN funding at the earliest opportunity.”

(British Govt)