UK pledges 50 million GPB for Darfur crisis and Sudan peace

Hilary Benn, UK International Development Secretary, who is in Nairobi today to attend the signing of the historic Peace Agreement has announced a contribution of 50 million GBP towards the UN's 2005 Workplan for Sudan and Eastern Chad.

The UK has set aside 100m GBP for Sudan in this coming year, based on the signature of a peace agreement and provided there is progress in Darfur. He said:

"The UN has led international humanitarian action on the Darfur crisis as well as responding to the needs of the Sudanese people. These needs will be enormous this year. I am therefore announcing our contribution of 50 million GBP towards the UN appeal. This early contribution will help UN agencies to meet these needs and I hope that other countries will do the same. This contribution, and our total pledge to Sudan next year, underlines the UK's continuing strong commitment to Africa and to tackling conflict."

The 50m GBP will be allocated against the UN's Workplan for the 2005 [calendar] year, and their Consolidated Appeal for Eastern Chad. Funding for this will come from DFID's 2004/5 and 2005/6 budget.