Scottish Executive provide £250,000 for Darfur

SCIAF has praised the Scottish Executive for helping the ‘poorest of the poor’ following its £0.25 million donation to help displaced people in the Darfur region of Sudan and neighbouring Chad. The funding was also welcomed by Cardinal Keith O’Brien who briefed Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond together with SCIAF chief executive Paul Chitnis following their visit to the region.

The new money comes as an estimated 2.1 million people continue to seek refuge in temporary camps set up to protect them from the spiralling humanitarian and security crisis in the region. Over 200,000 people have been killed since clashes first erupted between Sudanese government forces, allied militias and rebel groups.

Working with the Darfur Emergency Response Operation (DERO) on the ground in Darfur, SCIAF is helping to provide vital life-saving humanitarian assistance to people driven from their homes.

Money from the Executive will provide seeds, tools, training and storage to help the displaced people feed themselves and their families. It will improve their nutritional intake and promote a level of self reliance by enabling them to generate local food production.

The Scottish Executive pledge follows a meeting in May between Cardinal O’Brien, the First Minister, and Paul Chitnis. At the meeting the Cardinal and Mr Chitnis gave the Minister eye witness accounts of the dire situation in Darfur following their joint visit to the region with SCIAF in 2006.

Speaking of the Scottish Executive funding for Darfur Cardinal O’Brien said:

“I am absolutely delighted the Executive has awarded this money to help the people suffering in Darfur. Last year I saw for myself just how bad the situation is when I visited a number of camps in the region which are set up to support the people who have had to flee their homes during the conflict.”

Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture Linda Fabiani said:

“I am delighted to be able to offer support of £250,000 to help those most in need in South and West Darfur.

“With the arrival of the rainy season, we are looking at immediate and practical solutions to support impoverished and displaced people. In an area where three quarters of the population are farmers, this money from the Scottish government will provide essential seeds, tools and training to allow people to begin planting to feed themselves and their families.

“I commend the work that SCIAF is carrying out to help the communities most affected by this humanitarian crisis. This Scottish government is committed to a progressive international development policy and I am proud that we can offer some hope and support to the people of Darfur during this crucial period.”

Mary Cullen, Head of Communications and Education at SCIAF added:

“This money really will help the poorest of the poor. It will go immediately to projects on the ground in Darfur to help keep people alive through what continues to be a complex and desperate crisis. Together with the threat of violence, there is the very real risk of large scale fatalities from diseases such as cholera and malaria.

“The displaced population in Darfur now accounts for a staggering 2.1 million people, with the number of new arrivals going up all the time. Since January alone 110,000 new people have fled to camps for protection, food and shelter.

“The money generously donated to the SCIAF appeal by the Executive and the Scottish public is helping save lives and provide basic humanitarian assistance to many thousands of desperately poor people.

“Sadly, this is an ongoing crisis and it is not until the political situation is resolved that people will have any hope of long term security. SCIAF and its partners will continue to do all we can and we are always grateful for the ongoing support of the Scottish public.”

Members of the public can make donations to the Darfur & Chad Emergency Appeal by calling tel: 0141 354 5555 or visiting www.sciaf.org.uk.

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund works with poor communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean to reduce poverty and campaign for justice for the world’s poor.

FACTS ON DARFUR

§ The present total is 2,100,000 displaced persons

§ The total affected population is 4,100,000 persons

§ In February 2007 it is estimated that 900,000 conflict-affected people could not be reached by any humanitarian agency due to insecurity – (roughly the same as the population of Edinburgh and Glasgow combined)

§ A conservative estimate is that 200,000 have been killed.

UN /AU

§ Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir, President of Sudan, agreed in November 2006 to a three phase UN plan to strengthen the overstretched 7000 strong AU force in Darfur

§ The Sudan president gave the go-ahead in April 07 for the second phase – a “heavy support package” with 3000 UN troops, police and civilian personnel along with six attack helicopters and other equipment.

§ However, recently Al-Bashir reiterated his opposition to the deployment of a 22,000 strong joint UN-AU force, saying he would only allow a larger African force with technical and logistic support from the UN.

§ A tripartite meeting between the Sudanese government, the UN and the AU was held in Ethiopia, in the 1st week of June to reach an agreement on the UN third package of support known as the “hybrid” AU-UN operation comprising at least 23,000 troops and police. Sudan agreed to the first two phases, but has refused to sign off on the third and final phase saying it would only allow a larger African force with technical and logistic support from the UN.