Australia announces more 3m dollars aid for W. Sudan

CANBERRA, Australia, June 19, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Australian Minister of Foreign affairs announced yesterday Australian aid of 3m dollars for victims of the conflict in Sudan. This is in addition to the 5m dollars to help displaced people in Sudan’s war-torn western region of Darfur, which Australia announced on 17 May.

The Australian government’s latest contribution is for emergency humanitarian assistance for Sudanese in refugee camps in eastern Chad. It’s estimated up to 200,000 Sudanese are now in camps in eastern Chad.

This funding will help meet their most urgent needs, including health, shelter, food and water and sanitation.

One and a half million dollars will be used for UNICEF activities and 500,000 dollars each is being allocated through World Vision, Care International and Oxfam, all of which have mounted emergency programmes in the camps.

A press statement issued by the Australians Foreign ministry said Australian “capacity to help victims within Sudan is limited because humanitarian agencies are finding it difficult to obtain the necessary visas and travel permits”.

Humanitarian needs in Sudan’s Darfur region and eastern Chad continue to grow as attacks and atrocities against the civilian population continue. The UN Security Council approved on 11 June 2004 a resolution urging an immediate halt to violence in Darfur.