U.S. Senate includes Sudan aid in $19.6 billion foreign aid bill

By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON, Sep 24, 2004 (AP) — The U.S. Senate approved up to $680 million (A?552 million) in aid for the embattled Darfur region of Sudan on Thursday, including money it would shift from an unspent fund for rebuilding Iraq.

The sum would be Congress’ latest infusion of assistance to a region of western Africa racked by a conflict that has killed 50,000 people and left 1.2 million more homeless. Many others lack food or medical care.

U.S. aid for Sudan has largely drawn bipartisan support. Underscoring that, the assistance included $150 million (A?122 million) that would be transferred from a largely unspent $18.4 billion (A?15 billion) fund for rebuilding Iraq, a top U.S. priority that has languished due to violence and red tape.

The Sudan money was included in a $19.7 billion (A?16 billion) foreign aid bill for next year that the Senate approved by voice vote. The House approved its version of the legislation in July and included $311 million (A?253 million) for Sudan. The two chambers will next have to write a compromise measure.

By voice vote, senators added a final $75 million (A?61 million) to the Sudan package, an amendment sponsored by Sens. Jon Corzine, a New Jersey Democrat, and Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican.

That money would go to the African Union, which has offered to send troops to Darfur to try ending the crisis but has said it needs money to do so. The extra funds, which would add to the federal deficit, would be available only if President George W. Bush requests them.

“The real challenge is to make sure we stop the genocide, not just feed the hungry,” Corzine said.

In July, Congress voted to apply the label “genocide” to the warfare in Darfur, where the Arab Janjaweed militia has been battling ethnic Africans. The United Nations considers it the most serious humanitarian crisis in the world.