Denmark earmarks 4,3 million dollars in aid to Darfur

COPENHAGEN, Nov 29 (AFP) — Denmark’s development aid ministry said Monday it would provide an additional 24 million kroner (3.2 million euros, 4.3 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to Sudan’s war-torn western province of Darfur.

Including this latest aid contribution, Denmark has provided some 75 million kroner in aid to Darfur since the end of 2003.

The Scandinavian country plans to continue to provide aid to the province in 2005, the ministry said in a statement.

Development Aid Minister Bertel Haarder called on the “parties in the conflict to respect the agreements reached”, and urged them to “work to prevent further aggressions and offer free access to humanitarian aid.”

The aid will be distributed through UNICEF, the Danish Red Cross, (Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) – Doctors Without Borders) and the Danish humanitarian group Dan Church Aid.

Since February 2003 when fighting flared in Darfur between government and rebel forces, more than 70,000 people have been killed or have died from hunger and disease in the area, according to the United Nations, and another 1.5 million have been displaced.