Efforts in Sudan Face $1.3 Billion Shortfall: UN

Humanitarian Efforts in Sudan Face $1.3 Billion Shortfall, UN Warns

New York, Jun 30 2005 3:00PM

Programmes providing humanitarian assistance and protection in Sudan and supporting the recently-signed peace agreement there face a $1.3 billion funding shortfall out of the $1.9 billion needed for 2005, the United Nations warned today.

As UN agencies met with their non-governmental partners in Geneva on a new plan of work for the country, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that only $643 million of the needed funds have been received so far.

Worse-than-expected crop failure and new displacement in conflict areas led in May to an upward revision of the estimate of total funds needed for the country, which was ravaged by a decades-long civil war in the south and separate conflict involving rebels, the Government and militias in the Darfur region since 2003.

Other factors that have increased funding requirements include mine clearance activities, repair of transportation infrastructure, increased assistance to support the spontaneous return and reintegration of displaced persons and increased activities to support the peace agreement in the areas of governance and law and order, OCHA said.

ENDS

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