(2004- 23) News Release May 13, 2004 Ottawa -- Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation, and Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada will respond to the UN's appeal for additional resources to meet the serious emergency needs in Darfur, the western region of Sudan. Canada will provide a total of $3 million in emergency assistance to the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). "Canada is very concerned by reports of human rights violations and infractions of international humanitarian law in Sudan," said Minister Carroll. "Canada's contribution will help to provide relief for over one million internally displaced persons, particularly women and children, affected by the ongoing conflict in the region." "This contribution reinforces political efforts to end the killings and achieve an eventual political settlement," said Minister Graham. "Canada's Special Envoy to the Sudan Peace Process, Senator Mobina Jaffer, will be in the region next week and will discuss ways in which Canada can provide meaningful support for international efforts to stabilize Darfur." Of Canada's new $3-million contribution, $2 million will go to the WFP to provide food aid for war- and drought-affected populations in Darfur, and $1 million will go to UNICEF to provide emergency shelter, non-food items, and help improve the living conditions of the internally displaced persons now in that area. Over the last 15 months, the civil conflict has continued in Darfur. Thousands of people have died as a direct consequence of violence. More than one million Sudanese people have been displaced from their homes, including 110,000 who have fled to neighbouring Chad. The conflict in Darfur exacerbates the already fragile situation in Sudan due to the long-standing civil war. Since January 2004, and taking into account today's commitment, CIDA will have provided over $15.65 million in food and non-food aid in response to the situation in Sudan. This includes: $3.05 million for the Sudanese refugees now in Chad; $8.6 million to assist war- and drought-affected populations within Sudan, including those in the Darfur region; $1 million through CIDA's Peacebuilding Fund. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the 2004 Federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. - 30 - Information: Andrew Graham Director of Communications Office of the Minister for International Cooperation Telephone: (819) 997-2599 Media Relations Office Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Telephone: (819) 953-6534 E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca Isabelle Savard Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851 Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada (613) 995-1874 Website: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
