Government donors must give more to help Sudan

9 September 2004

A coalition of some of the largest aid agencies working in Darfur and Chad today called on the governments of France, Italy and Japan to be more generous in thier response to the tragedy unfolding in Chad and the Darfur region of Sudan.  

In a joint letter, the International Save the Children Alliance, CARE International, Oxfam International, and Caritas Internationalis, urged the French, Italian and Japanese governments to respond urgently to the crisis in Sudan and Chad by sharply increasing aid to the region. "These are some of the richest countries in the world and they have been among the poorest donors. While humanitarian agencies struggle to cope with the overwhelming needs of the millions affected in this region, our difficulties are made worse by the lack of urgency of some rich nations in their response to the problem", said Barbara Stocking, Director of Oxfam GB.

All of the countries targeted are members of the G8 and among the richest in the world. Of them the lowest donor is Japan, which has given $6 million bilaterally in 2004. Next is France, which has given $9.6 million bilaterally in 2004, followed by Italy, which has given just over $10.8 million bilaterally in 2004. "By the end of August the United Nations reported that it had only received just over half of the money it needs to help those who have fled the violence in Darfur", said Barbara Stocking. "If donors like France, Italy and Japan do not provide that money, thousands more people are likely to die".

Although the agencies have long experience of working in Sudan, the situation in Darfur is particularly shocking. Many hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and are now facing starvation and disease. On both sides of the Sudan/Chad border, a human tragedy is unfolding, with people in desperate need of clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and other life-saving assistance. The UN appealed for $531 million to successfully carry out its humanitarian work in Darfur and Chad, of which $276 million has been raised, and $255 million is still needed.

For further information please contact: Paul Hetherington, Save the Children UK, 00 44 207 012 6400 Flora Botsford, Oxfam GB, 00 44 1865 312 498 Kate Bulbulian, CARE International, 00 44 207 934 9347