France dismisses criticism over aid to Sudan
PARIS, Sept 10 (Reuters) – France on Friday dismissed accusations by aid agencies that it is not being generous enough in its funding of humanitarian relief for Sudan’s Darfur region.
Responding to criticism by a coalition of British-based charities, France said it had contributed about 29 million euros ($35 million) of a European total of 287 million euros in relief for Darfur.
The aid agencies, which included Oxfam and CARE International, said France had given only $9.6 million in bilateral aid so far. They also rapped Japan for giving $6 million and Italy $10.8 million.
“Honestly, I don’t think you can accuse France in the least of either indifference or being modest in its reaction,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous told a news briefing.
“On the contrary, the effort is substantial and I think the numbers I have given you prove this sufficiently.”
The United Nations says the crisis in Darfur is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. It estimates that up to 50,000 people have been killed and 1.2 million made homeless.
Ladsous said France had also contributed a further 19 million euros via the European Union.
Among other things, France had helped pay for food aid and logistical support and financed organisations including the Red Cross, he said.