Implemented of Measures to Alleviate the Plight of the Black Sudanese in the Darfur Region by the South African Government besides the African Union and United Nations Processes

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 419

PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11 OF 13 AUGUST 2004

ADV ZL MADASA (ACDP) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) Whether the Government has implemented any measures to alleviate the plight of the black Sudanese in the Darfur region, besides the African Union and United Nations processes; if not, why not; if so, what measures;

(2) Whether her department has organised any humanitarian aid programme to help the Sudanese refugees; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? N517E

REPLY:

(1) Yes.

President Mbeki announced on 10 August 2004, that South Africa will be sending trains to Darfur to assist with the transportation of humanitarian aid, after humanitarian organisations working in Darfur cited lack of logistics as hampering the delivery of aid to the region.

DFA is also working with a humanitarian agency, Africa Muslims Agency of Johannesburg, which has requested the Department's assistance in transporting about 30 tons of relief goods to Darfur. The 1860 Heritage Foundation of Durban and a private company, Ozone Marketing, have also indicated an intention to donate a substantial amount of food, medicines and other relief items if the Government can transport them to Darfur. It has been recommended to the Minister that the Department support these people-to-people humanitarian contributions to the displaced residents of Darfur, through payment of the cost of transportation of the consignment to Darfur.

Finally, during the 2003/4 financial year, the Department contributed an amount of R222 141 to UNHCR for its work in Darfur.

(2) Yes.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation [co-ordinated by Dr Imtiaz Suleiman] will be transporting three planeloads of food and medicines to the region, at its own cost, on 25 August 2004. DFA has organised authorisation for the delivery of this consignment and DFA officials will accompany the shipment to its point of distribution in El-Geneina on the border with Chad, where thousands of displaced persons have congregated. DFA will also assist in paying for one of the three trips.