Nora Owen
Question:61 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the aid he has given and proposes to give to assist the people of Sudan in the current crisis; and if he will reappoint a development officer to Sudan.
Written Answers. - Aid to Sudan.
A sum of £215,000 has been provided bilaterally this year to assist emergency relief operations in Sudan in the current crisis. Last year £375,000 was allocated to Sudan from the disaster relief fund.
The Government are keeping the situation in Sudan under constant review. I cannot at this stage specify what future allocations will be.
Our development co-operation office in Khartoum was closed in early 1988 as a direct result of budgetary constraints on the Vote of my Department. There are no plans at present to reopen this office. I would add that regular field visits are made to our project in Sudan by personnel of my Department. We have maintained a small scale programme in Sudan, concentrating on basic needs in the areas of health care, water supply and agricultural and rural development.