The European Commission on Wednesday said it was giving an additional 60 million euros (79 million dollars) in aid to help victims of the ongoing conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. The commission said that the new aid package aims to improve the protection of civilians and provide water supplies, treatment for malnourished children, emergency drug kits, mobile clinics, measures to tackle cholera, hygiene products and shelter, dpa reported. Some 45 million euros in aid will go to people in Sudan while 15 million euros will be used to help refugees and displaced people in neighbouring Chad. The commission said that the Darfur conflict continued to be its "main humanitarian concern." EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel urged the Sudanese government and rebel movements to grant access to Darfur for relief agencies and human rights organizations and ensure their safety. "There is no question about our willingness to help the victims of the conflict but the work of relief organisations on the ground has become increasingly difficult and dangerous," Michel said, adding: "This is simply not acceptable." The new EU aid comes on top of some 50 million euros in food aid for Sudan and Chad pledged earlier this year. Between 2004 and 2006, the commission allocated more than 357 million euros to help victims of crises in Sudan.
