Dutch FM pledges additional €10 million for Darfur force
May 16, 2007 (THE HAGUE) — Dutch foreign minister on Wednesday pledged additional 10-million Euro aid package to the African Union peacekeeping force in the troubled Sudanese province of Darfur, EU officials said.
Foreign minister Maxime Verhagen has pledged a further contribution of €10 million to the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS). AMIS’s mandate includes protecting civilians under threat in Darfur.
This brings the Netherlands’ total contribution to €48.8 million.
“Speaking at the monthly meeting of EU foreign ministers last Monday, Verhagen expressed his concern about the situation in Darfur and called for sanctions against the Sudanese government” a statement issued Dutch government said.
He also saw a role for the EU in funding AMIS.
Helping to improve the situation in Sudan and the Horn of Africa is a priority for the Netherlands. Supporting AMIS is an important part of this effort. The African Union itself faces a shortage of funds.
After the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement in May 2006, the Netherlands was supposed to host the Darfur donors conference, but the dramatic developments and the rejection of the holdout rebel groups
Earlier this month, the Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation Bert Koenders visited Sudan. But after his return to Netherlands, Bert expressed regret for not visiting the rebel controlled Um Rai area in North Darfur. Also, the Dutch media which accompanied the minister published negative reports on the humanitarian situation in Darfur IDPs camps.
(ST)