Sudan, rebels call for 300 million dollars in urgent aid

OSLO, Sept 28 (AFP) — Representatives of the Sudanese government and the southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement on Tuesday urged the international community to provide 300 million dollars (244 million euros) in aid to cover urgent needs.

“Sudan is at a critical juncture,” the government and SPLM representatives said in a joint statement as they met in Oslo on Tuesday for international talks on their country’s aid needs.

“To avert the risk of relapse into conflict … requires that visible peace dividends start flowing to the people soon,” according to the two parties, who reached a ceasefire agreement in 2002 and currently are in the last stages of final peace negotiations.

The government and the rebels from southern Sudan pinpointed
four areas where aid money was essential, especially emphasizing the
need to assist some one million displaced people and refugees to
return home, as well as media initiatives to promote peace.

According to the two parties, a bit more than 335 million
dollars would be needed to cover urgent needs and reach the desired
goal.

The Sudanese government has pronounced its willingness to
provide 30 million dollars of the total amount, while the rest of
the money could largely be delivered through already existing
financial channels, according to the two groups.

Once a comprehensive peace accord has been signed, Oslo will
host an international donor conference aimed at securing pledges for
aid for Sudan’s long term reconstruction needs.