Minister Dermot Ahern announces €500,000 for African Union peace mission in Darfur
At the European Council meeting in Brussels today, EU leaders reaffirmed their continued readiness to provide assistance and expertise to the expanded African Union peace mission in Darfur, Sudan.
Speaking after the European Council, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., announced funding of €500,000 for the African Union’s mission.
“The African Union is performing a vital role in Darfur which the EU and international community, in line with recent appeals from UN Seceretary General Annan and his special representative in the region, Mr. Jan Pronk, must continue to support. The funding announced today will allow for better monitoring of the fragile ceasefire and will hopefully save lives”, Minister Ahern said.
Note to Editors:
This further funding follows on from the nearly €10 million in funding that the Government has provided to Sudan in 2004. €6 million has been provided in emergency assistance to meet the immediate needs of some of the most vulnerable populations in Darfur. Assistance amounting to over €3 million is being provided to other areas of Sudan, where needs are also great.
The European Union has, to date, committed over €100 million in assistance for the African Union’s efforts in Darfur.
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