Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 23, 2004

United States Assistance to Sudanese Refugee Emergency

The United States is providing $9.3 million in emergency assistance to address
the dire humanitarian needs of 110,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad. This
assistance is part of an allocation announced by the President on February 5,
2004 from the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund. It includes
$5,000,000 for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
$1,000,000 for the World Food Program, and $400,000 for the International
Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The balance of $2.9
million will be allocated shortly.

Appeals have been sent out by international organizations for contributions to
address the needs of refugees who have fled fighting in the Darfur region of
western Sudan. The United States encourages other donors to respond quickly.
The needs are urgent.

We note that the Government of Sudan has declared that humanitarian access will
be ensured for relief agencies seeking to respond to the needs of the victims
of fighting inside Darfur region. We urge all parties to the conflict to make
that humanitarian access a reality.

2004/190

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