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Refugees from Darfur in Chad. (Uriel Sinai)
Last update - 23:18 08/05/2007
Israel to donate $5 million in aid to refugees in Darfur and Chad
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent

The Foreign Ministry intends to implement a $5 million aid plan for Darfur refugees in the near future.

The recommendations for aid where submitted to Foreign Ministry Director General Aharon Abramovitch, and they must be approved by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The aid will consist of budget funds as well as contributions.

Abramovitch recently instructed several departments in the ministry to prepare a plan to increase Israeli aid to the victims of genocide in Darfur.
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The ministry's team in charge of the issue of aid to Darfur refugees, headed by Daniel Miron, head of the Human Rights department, presented a detailed report with its recommendations. The report consisted of a plan to significantly increase aid by official Israeli bodies to refugees in Darfur.

The document said Israel could not operate officially within Chad, due to the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and warned that "Israeli experts sent there could become targets for violence." As an alternative, the plan recommends Israel "join the existing international effort" in Chad by donating substantial funds.

According to the plan, Israel will transmit $4 million to four aid organizations - the United Nations Refugee Agency, the UN Children's Fund, the World Food Program, and the Red Cross.

The report states that such a contribution will place Israel among the "10 largest donators to Chad refugees in the world in 2007."

The Foreign Ministry also intends to increase its activity in the Central African Republic, with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations and which also absorbs refugees. The ministry will acquire $800,000-worth of medicine and water purifying supplies from Israeli companies and distribute them to refugee camps. The ministry will also purchase food products in Africa and distribute them to refugees.

The plan also includes the establishment of an eye clinic in Kenya, about 50 km from the border with Sudan, in which two Israeli doctors will be stationed to treat hundreds of patients. This portion of the plan is supposed to be implemented in the coming days.

The Foreign Ministry will also donate $150,000 to the organization Israaid - The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid, which serves as an umbrella organization for Israeli non-governmental organizations operating in countries neighboring Sudan that absorb Darfur refugees.

The report also includes a recommendation to "enlist the Israeli public" in efforts for Darfur through fundraising.

The Foreign Ministry's planned aid constitutes a significant step up from previous years, in which only $200,000 was allocated for the cause. Since the beginning of 2007, international humanitarian aid has stood at $1.81 billion, with the United States as the main contributor, providing $380 million in aid since the year began
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  1.   Charity from my charity 22:01  |  Pam Beesley 08/05/07
  2.   Israel: as humanitarian as its neighbors permit 22:10  |  Polybios 08/05/07
  3.   Why to Darfur and not to Shoa survivors? 22:14  |  Jon 08/05/07
  4.   17% poverty is in Israel and they can donate now? 22:20  |  Shameful 08/05/07
  5.   Pay Your Neighbors` Money Before Giving Charity 22:28  |  Jamal Abu Khadijeh 08/05/07
  6.   How much did oil rich Saudi Arabia give? 22:30  |  Ben 08/05/07
  7.   Ill advised charity 22:35  |  DT 08/05/07
  8.   the money will be deducted from stolen 22:38  |  Dar Furian 08/05/07
  9.   We don`t want you money 22:40  |  Sudanese from Darfur 08/05/07
  10.   Israel`s Charity 22:50  |  Brian Hunt 08/05/07
  11.   to #9 Israel not giving to you, slaver and genocider 22:52  |  Chick Corea 08/05/07
  12.   #5 Palestenian Refugees 23:06  |  Arab 08/05/07
  13.   Ben 23:18  |  Amos 08/05/07
  14.   if israel was truly compassionate they would have stop occupation 23:20  |  Nina 08/05/07
  15.   HOW much are the Arabs giving&the Chinese&Russian arms 23:32  |  PETER.SM 08/05/07
  16.   "Sudanese from Darfur"(Ha.ha).Do you have internet access there? 23:37  |  PETER.SM 08/05/07
  17.   TO #1 Pam, #7 DT 23:43  |  Jon 08/05/07
  18.   The money could be better spent 23:44  |  christa 08/05/07
  19.   ARAB Pal.Refugees are discriminated against by Arabs. 23:45  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  20.   JAMAL The neighbours are at war.Nobody transfers money to 23:48  |  PETER SM 08/05/07
  21.   Giving to the UN Refugee Agency? 23:52  |  Jon 08/05/07
  22.   is that from the money you get from the USA? 23:54  |  emad matahin 08/05/07
  23.   Jew`s charity!!! 00:01  |  Soldier 09/05/07
  24.   TO Nina 00:11  |  Jon 09/05/07
  25.   Sudanese from Darfur 00:17  |  rich 09/05/07
  26.   Peter SM saudi gave 10million in 2004 00:17  |  Occupation is evil 09/05/07
  27.   LET MY ISRAELI BROTHER`S STARVE - CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME 00:22  |  Sid Emess 09/05/07
  28.   Ashamed to be amongst people like you 00:34  |  Horrified 09/05/07
  29.   Israel is compationssionate 00:39  |  ak 09/05/07
  30.   Christa - you hit the nail on the head! 00:41  |  Jon 09/05/07
  31.   OCC.is evil.And what are Saudis doing about the Arab occupation 00:53  |  PETER SM 09/05/07
  32.   International Aid and #1 00:57  |  Daniel 09/05/07
  33.   Re #22 01:00  |  Mike 09/05/07
  34.   Peter SM 01:02  |  christa 09/05/07
  35.   Jamal Abu Khadijeh: Damage done by your QASSAMS deprives PALS any 01:09  |  Vittorio 09/05/07
  36.   Is this a way... 01:09  |  Maureen Ann 09/05/07
  37.   charity Starts at home 01:10  |  disgusted 09/05/07
  38.   Israel... a nation without destiny 01:11  |  Moe 09/05/07
  39.   #9 "Sudanese from Darfur" is a fake! Imagine a REFUGEE with ..... 01:12  |  Vittorio 09/05/07
  40.   buvkd out of baggers basket 01:16  |  true 09/05/07
  41.   If Israel really wanted to help Darfur ... 01:18  |  Cadaver 09/05/07
  42.   # 22 is "right on and # 1 hasn`t a clue 01:21  |  Joe 09/05/07
  43.   #22 Horrified 01:29  |  Moe 09/05/07
  44.   I applaud you #22 01:35  |  Zeke 09/05/07
  45.   Arm Them Instead 01:36  |  Efox 09/05/07
  46.   #1 Pam 01:44  |  D 09/05/07
  47.   #22 Horrified 01:52  |  ChanahS 09/05/07
  48.   #22 ashamed????? don`t be. 01:55  |  Michael 09/05/07
  49.   Palestinians have no money because... 02:03  |  Efox 09/05/07
  50.   if 5 million $ are the 10th highest donation 02:12  |  JustMe 09/05/07
  51.   #32 I agree, Talkback should go away. 02:24  |  Michael 09/05/07
  52.   Pam Beesley # 1 02:41  |  ChanahS 09/05/07
  53.   PROUD TO BE A JEW 02:50  |  TOBIA 09/05/07
  54.   So why not stop torturing them, incarceting and deportring them.? 02:54  |  Swanger 09/05/07
  55.   5 million USD isn`t what it used to be 03:06  |  Cynic 09/05/07
  56.   Pam Beesley from Scranton, Pennsylvania - You Are Not Very Well 03:14  |  Jack 09/05/07
  57.   Maureen Ann- Christians Buy Themselves Out of Hell 03:24  |  Jack 09/05/07
  58.   A message to all cynics... you`re so sad, and oh so old. 03:47  |  Allon 09/05/07
  59.   Haaretz 03:52  |  Moe 09/05/07
  60.   Moe! Are You Related to Larry or Curly? 05:05  |  Jack 09/05/07
  61.   Moe and Freedom of Speech in the US 05:58  |  Eli 09/05/07
  62.   #Jack, you didn`t understand the twist of my post... 07:27  |  Maureen Ann 09/05/07
  63.   Maureen Ann. Don`t Get Your Pants In A Wand 08:25  |  Jack 09/05/07
  64.   HOW DARE THEY 09:54  |  Yakov 09/05/07
  65.   Another gift from Israel 10:08  |  David 09/05/07
  66.   STOLE AND GIVE IT 10:14  |  indrajaya 09/05/07
  67.   #62, Maureen Ann 10:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/05/07
  68.   TO ALL POSTERS 10:32  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/05/07
  69.   No reason for bashing here..... 10:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/05/07
  70.   Why to Darfur and not to Palestinian refugees 11:00  |  Ralph is back 09/05/07
  71.   Michael 11:05  |  for those who are so 09/05/07
  72.   5 million dollars - about the cost of one IDF tank 11:33  |