MINISTER OF STATE ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY GRANT FOR BURUNDI AND SUDAN

Minister Liz O'Donnell today announced an emergency grant of £110,000 to meet the continuing needs of refugees in Burundi. ‘People returning to their homes from camps for the displaced are among the most vulnerable in Burundi, and urgently need support towards agricultural recovery and emergency health care', the Minister said. ‘This latest grant for health care structure in Gitega and Muramvya provinces will involve locally employed health personnel. This team will assist in the repair of health centres, and will work on re-stocking and distribution of medicines. The grant will provide basic replacement medical equipment and refresher training locally for Ministry of Health staff in Burundi. This latest grant brings our support to emergency programmes in Burundi to almost £400,000 this year, and is a practical demonstration of our commitment to its people".

"I have also approved a grant of £118,000 for Sudan today. £100,000 of this will be given to UNICEF assistance in Northern Sudan. This programme has been under-funded internationally, and this has resulted in cut-backs in vital nutritional projects, as well as health and household food security programmes. In addition, I have agreed today that £18,000 be granted to Trócaire to assist vulnerable anddisplaced Sudanese in the Nuba mountain area of Central Sudan. The emphasis will be on local, basic, practical needs - such as the provision of blankets, plastic sheeting and mosquito netting".

Note for editors: Grants for emergency and humanitarian assistance from the Irish Aid budget this week bring the overall total for this sector in 1997, to £10m.

In addition this week, Minister O'Donnell announced Irish Aid grants of £50,000 to aid emergency medical projects organised by the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs in Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea.

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