The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in coordination with the United Nations, NGOs and other donors assessed the basic and urgent needs of the population affected by the events in Darfur. It has now been established that the number of the affected population is nearly 600,000 among whom 320,000 are displaced and 28,000 are refugees in Chad Prompt and adequate response by the Government of Sudan, the UN and other donors secured delivery of relief (food and non-food items) exceeding 25,000 tons.

It is to be noted that the World food Programme, UNICEF, the ICRC, the EU, USAID are all operating in the region and have satisfactorily rendered the necessary assistance to the needy population. Along with these international agencies, a network of twenty six national organizations are currently active in offering support and material assistance in the region. Details of the overall assistance are as follows:

1. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Zakat Chamber offered 12,000 tons of food, medicines, clothes, tents etc ... 2. The Islamic Bank for Development approved funding water projects in Greater Darfur amounting to $27 million. 3. World Food Programme offered 9,870 tons financed by USAID for affected populations in Darfur 4. The EU offered 5,000 tons of foodstuff 5. The ICRC offered medicines and blankets for 100,000 affected persons financed by the Government of France. 6. The UNICEF offered medicines and blankets for 40,000 affected persons in Darfur 7. Médecins Sans Frontières (Netherlands) offered medicines and blankets for 4,000 affected persons. 8. Médecins Sans Frontières (France) offered humanitarian and medical assistance to 10,000 affected persons. 9. The Sudanese Red Cross offered assistance to 25,000 affected persons 10. Med Air or Switzerland, WHO, OXFAM and FAO offered sizeable assistance to the affected population in the region of Darfur

The current humanitarian assistance available to the affected population in Darfur during the coming six months is as follows:

a. 12,000 tons in Kosti and El Obeid towns; 1,650 tons in El Fasher Town; 850 tons in Nyala Town; 250 tons in Geneina Town b. 24,000 tons from WFP on its way now (end of December 2003) to Port Sudan. c. DFID (UK) is offering $3.5 million for cereals. d. EU expected to support the humanitarian assistance to Darfur e. Norway is offering $500,000 and the Netherlands 1.5 million Euro. g. The Sudan Government made available 5,000 tons of cereals to the region

In reference to what has been circulating recently that some international organizations withdrew from Geneina, the Government wishes to clarify that what happened in fact was relocation of the national staff employed by these organizations. The agencies and organizations mentioned above are still engaged in Darfur, and have not stopped availing their highly appreciated assistance

On the other hand, the Government stands committed to the terms of the Abeche Agreement signed in September 2003 with the so called Sudan Liberation Movement as a framework for settlement and addressing the current situation. The breach of the Abeche Agreement by the other party is the only cause of deterioration of the situation in Darfur, and they are fully responsible for the suffering there. The Government holds the outlaws responsible for the collapse of the N'djamena talks, despite the highly appreciated efforts exerted by H.E. President Idris Debbe to facilitate a solution. The outlaws effectively subverted the talks by insisting on unrealistic conditions linking the talks to the ongoing peace negotiations between the Government and the SPLM in Kenya. The statement issued by the Chadian Government following the collapse of the talks is a clear cut proof of the responsibility of the outlaws for the failure of the talks

While the Government of the Sudan firmly objects to the linkage between the demands of the outlaws and the ongoing talks in Naivasha, Kenya, it reiterates its readiness to reach a peaceful solution to the situation in Darfur. The Government is also firm on fully shouldering its responsibilities of protecting the lives and the property of citizens, and relief workers in Darfur, despite the continued conduct and practices of the outlaws that endanger the security of both the citizens of Darfur and the relief workers, causing obstruction of the relief delivery to the victims of these outlaws