By Henrietta Billings - 29th November 2004
Brussels has an pledged an extra €51m in aid to the victims of the conflict in Sudan, with at least €31m targeted at the Darfur region.
Food, shelter, access to clean water, emergency health and sanitation will be the main recipients of the money, bringing the total European Commission aid to Sudan this year to more than €248m.
In a statement on Sunday, EU development chief Louis Michel said, "It is high time that the many promises of peace made so far are respected, once and for all."
"The European Commission is committed to providing sustained financing for this crisis, for as long as the needs are there".
The Commission warned that the present aid delivery effort was "running out of time" and a "major food crisis is on the horizon".
Brussels said that €10 m would be used to help the World Food Programme implement a food distribution programme in Darfur.
More than 1.6 million people have fled their homes during a rebellion that started in February 2003.
An estimated 70,000 people have died since March from malnutrition and diseases, Reuters reports.
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