Washington to provide technical support for Sudan to face climate challenges
August 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The acting U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Khartoum Steven Koutsis has expressed his country’s keenness to provide technical and logistical support for Sudan to face challenges of climate change.
Sudan’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and Urban Development Hassan Abdel-Gadir Hilal on Monday discussed with Koutsis environment issues in Sudan particularly with regard to the impact of climate change on the country.
Hilal told the official news agency (SUNA) that he briefed the American diplomat on problems facing the environmental work in Sudan, saying the two sides agreed to execute a package of integrated activities and provide training and capacity building for the Sudanese workers in the field.
He pointed that Sudan would receive the first batch of the U.S. support in October, calling for the need to enhance environmental awareness among the various segments of the Sudanese society in order to create a clean environment.
The Sudanese minister further stressed importance to improve, protect and preserve the environment in order to achieve the sustainable development.
For his part, Koutsis underscored his country’s keenness to provide technical and logistical support for Sudan to face the impact of climate change particularly in the most affected areas.
Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide.
Also, Sudan has been on the US list of countries supporting terrorism since 1993, for allegedly providing support and safe haven for terrorist groups.
Last year, the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it is amending Sudan’s sanctions regime to allow exports of personal communications hardware and software including smart phones and laptops.
(ST)