Canada gives three million dollars more for western Sudan

OTTAWA, May 13 (AFP) — Canada announced a new three million dollar (2.2 million US) supplementary aid package for civilians in strife-torn western Sudan.

The money will be channelled through the World Food Program and UNICEF to provide emergency food aid and shelter for displaced civilians, mostly women and children in the Darfur region, said the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

“Canada is very concerned by reports of human rights violations and infractions of international humanitarian law in Sudan,” said Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation.

The new aid injection will take Canada’s contribution in humanitarian aid to Sudanese civilians to 15.6 million Canadian dollars (11.2 million US) since the beginning of the year.

Violence has continued in Darfur despite a 45-day renewable ceasefire signed April 8 by the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels in a bid to halt fighting that erupted in February 2003.