Foreign Minister Jan Petersen announced today that Norway will contribute an additional NOK 10 million to the African Union’s efforts in Darfur. The money will be used to support the AU in monitoring the ceasefire agreement and leading the peace talks for Darfur.

“The situation in Darfur is still critical. It is vital that the UN Security Council keeps up the pressure on the parties, particularly the government in Khartoum, to halt the violence, ensure the effective protection of the civilian population and provide full humanitarian access,” said Foreign Minister Petersen.

In June Norway provided support for the deployment of observers from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They will be in place on 15 August and will co-operate closely with African Union observers.

“It is important to find an African solution. The African Union’s leadership role in the Darfur process enjoys broad international support and is set out in UN Security Council resolution 1556 of 30 July 2004. The Norwegian Government is therefore determined to help ensure that the AU gets the resources it needs to carry out its mission,” said the Foreign Minister.

So far Norway has contributed more than NOK 100 million to humanitarian efforts to assist the victims of the Darfur conflict. The support has been provided through the UN, the Red Cross system and NGOs and includes cash, personnel and goods such as lorries, field hospitals, communications equipment and high-energy biscuits for malnourished and undernourished children.