Belgium sends aid plane to Sudan

BRUSSELS, Aug 16, 2004 (Xinhua) — Belgium on Sunday sent a Hercules C-130 plane to war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan to assist with humanitarian aid efforts, local Belgium media reported on Monday.

The plane took off from the Melsbroek military airport of Belgium on Sunday with sixteen military personnel on board.

It will join the United Nations (UN) aerial relief program for the next month, delivering supplies of medicine, food and vehicles to the troubled Darfur region five times a week, reports said.

The plane will also transport aid workers to Darfur, which has been the worst affected region in a civil war that has been raging since the start of 2003.

The Belgian mission will cost around 710,000 euros (about 876, 000 US dollars) and can be extended. It was originally scheduled for July but was delayed while waiting for the Sudanese government ‘s approval.

According to UN estimates, the conflict in the Darfur region has led to between 30,000 and 50,000 dead and 1 million refugees.