§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the aid package for the Sudan announced in July has been spent; and if he will make a statement. [186358]
§ Hilary BennIn July, the Chancellor announced that the UK would make available an allocation for Sudan of £150 million for the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08. This is to be disbursed following the conclusion of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The signature of six protocols in Naivasha in June represented significant progress towards a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, but negotiations are continuing in order to resolve the remaining outstanding issues, pressing the parties to push on with these negotiations. However, we have made it clear to the Sudanese Government that they will not enjoy a peace dividend from the international community unless there is also progress in Darfur.
1454WThe UK is the second largest donor in Darfur. The Department for International Development has allocated £62.5 million for humanitarian assistance between September 2003 and March 2005. Of this total, £36.9 million has been committed to date (to the UN, ICRC and NGOs).
DFID is also continuing to provide assistance in the rest of the country, this is to meet ongoing humanitarian needs and in support of our goal of helping Sudan to reach a just and lasting peace and to lay foundations for sustained poverty reduction.