Norway calls for more international support for Sudan’s Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sept 3, 2004 (Xinhua) — Visiting Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gaydar Hilson on Friday called for more international support for Sudan’s western Darfur region, the Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) reported.

During his visit to Fasher city in North Darfur, Hilson said that the international community should provide more help to Darfur.

Norway would do its best on this issue, he said, urging other European countries to do the same.

He noted that his country had delivered technical and financial support to the African Union mission in Darfur to enable it to do its job properly.

Hilson and his delegation arrived in Fasher on Friday morning and visited the UNICEF office in the region and the refugee camps of Zamzam and Abu Shok there.

He noted that his visit aims to investigate the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, as well as the projects and programs donated by his country.

Darfur needs more development programs and service projects, he emphasized.

Meanwhile, he hoped that his visit would open a new stage of cooperation between Sudan and his government.

“We have noticed a progress in security and humanitarian situations (in Darfur)”, he said, expecting more progress to be made.