UN mission to collect aid promised at Oslo donor gathering

KHARTOUM, Apr 20, 2005 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Advanced Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) said on Wednesday that the UN will collect an aid the international community pledged at the Oslo donor conference to support Sudan’s reconstruction.

Families sit outside their basic shelters, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 in a camp for returnees in Rumbek in southern Sudan. (AP).

Speaking to reporters, UNMIS spokesman Radia Achouri said that the donors are seriously committed to supporting Sudan and they will not retreat from their commitments.

She said the donors are keen to support Sudan’s peace process and help achieve a comprehensive peace in its western region of Darfur.

Achouri said that representative from the donor countries held a meeting with representative from Darfur rebel groups on the sidelines of the donor conference in Oslo, Norway, on the need to resume the Abuja peace talks aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement on Darfur.

She said that the first group of UN peacekeeping forces to Sudan will be deployed as of May.

Under the sponsorship of Norway, the international community pledged earlier this month an aid of 4.5 billion US dollars to help Sudan achieve national reconciliation.

Sudan has been embroiled in an over 20-year civil war in the south, which was virtually brought to an end when the Sudanese government and southern rebels signed a peace deal in January.