UN relief official welcomes Saudi donation to Darfur appeal

New York: 14 October 2004 - Mr. Jan Egeland, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, has welcomed a three-million dollar contribution by Saudi Arabia to the UN Humanitarian Appeal for the Darfur region of Sudan.
"I would like to thank the people and government of Saudi Arabia for their generous contribution to our efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Darfur. The donation is a welcome indication that UN Humanitarian Appeals are attracting support from countries from outside the traditional group of donors, " said Mr. Egeland.

Since conflict erupted in Darfur a year ago, women and children have died in great numbers. Thousands of children have been orphaned. Disease and hunger stalk the more than 1.4mn Sudanese displaced from their homes as well as the 200,000 Sudanese refugees in neighbouring Chad.

"This contribution will go toward programmes to deliver food and medicine to those who need it so badly. Many lives will be saved through this contribution," Mr. Egeland explained.

To date, the UN has received less than sixty per cent of the US$535 million it seeks to fund its emergency humanitarian operations in Darfur and Chad. Today's contribution is Saudi Arabia's largest donation so far to any UN Humanitarian Appeal, and is also the biggest donation to the Darfur Appeal from the Gulf Region.

"I'm calling on the other countries that are in a position to help to demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Darfur by stepping up their contributions to our humanitarian appeal," Mr. Egeland said.

"Though we have recently been able to deliver more aid to more people in Darfur, humanitarian needs there remain critical and the situation fragile. Without donor support, the catastrophe we have prevented to this point could still come about, " Mr. Egeland continued.