Canada pledges 20m dollars to help AU mission in Sudan

ADDIS ABABA, Oct 30, 2004 (ENA) — The government of Canada pledged 20m dollars to the expanded African Union Mission to the Sudan (AUMIS) as announced by Prime Minister Paul Martin in September 2004 during the UN General Assembly.

The assistance would ensure the initial procurement of five chartered helicopters to help the African Union (AU) in undertaking its early deployment and assist end the violence and human rights abuses in Darfur, Sudan, a press release the Canadian embassy sent to ENA [Ethiopian News Agency] on Friday said. The first phase of this funding consists of 2m dollars.

The release said the contribution made is a timely response to the AU’s decision to expand its mission to 3,320 from 390 people.

The AU mission that is composed of contingents from a number of African countries would help strengthen stability and enhance civilian protection in the region, it said. [Passage omitted]

Since October 2003, Canada has contributed some 37m dollars in humanitarian assistance to the crises in the Sudan, including 25.9m to respond specifically to the Darfur crisis, while simultaneously pursuing vigorously diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, the release said.