Programmes providing humanitarian assistance
and protection in Sudan and supporting the recently-signed peace agreement
there face a $1.3 billion funding shortfall out of the $1.9 billion needed
for 2005, the United Nations warned today.
As UN agencies met with their non-governmental
partners in Geneva on a new plan of work for the country, the UN Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that only $643
million of the needed funds have been received so far.
Worse-than-expected crop failure and new displacement in conflict areas led in May to an upward revision of the estimate of total funds needed for the country, which was ravaged by a decades-long civil war in the south and separate conflict involving rebels, the Government and militias in the Darfur region since 2003.
Other factors that have increased funding requirements include mine clearance activities, repair of transportation infrastructure, increased assistance to support the spontaneous return and reintegration of displaced persons and increased activities to support the peace agreement in the areas of governance and law and order, OCHA said.