Press Release: Darfur conflict: Commission provides a further EUR 17 million in humanitarian aid

The European Commission has allocated a further €17 million for life-saving humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Darfur crisis in Sudan bringing its contribution for 2006 to a total amount of €97 million. Up to four million people are affected and around two million are displaced. More than 210,000 have sought refuge in Chad. At the same time, because of the spill-over of the conflict into Chad, thousands of Chadian have crossed the border in the other direction and are now refugees in Darfur. This new humanitarian aid builds on previous Commission decisions for the region, notably had an extra €40 million in humanitarian aid announced by President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Michel during their visit in Darfur in Ocotober 2006 (IP/06/1299). Since 2004, the Commission has been a leading donor for Darfur and has allocated relief aid worth more than €357 million in response to the Darfur crisis.

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