Chief executive of Concern Tom Arnold has been accompanying UN secretary general Kofi Annan on his visit to Sudan. "I hope the secretary general will use his influence to revitalise the stalled political negotiations and encourage donors to honour their pledges to meet the $350 million shortfall agencies face," Mr Arnold said.
Concern was one of three humanitarian agencies asked to accompany the delegation, the others being the International Rescue Committee and Refugees International.
It is estimated that as many as a million people will be in need of food aid in Darfur over the coming months. The rainy season is about to start and if crops are to be planted for this year, it will have to be done over the coming four to six. Given the limited number of people willing to return to their villages because of insecurity, this means that the international community will be obliged to continue this level of support for at least the next 18 months.