Additional funding of €600,000 is to be provided by the Government to Sudan as part of an emergency food relief programme. The funds will be provided through the United Nations World Food Programme, which is managing emergency food distribution across Sudan.
The programme will provide emergency assistance to 6.4 million people. More than €10.7 million in aid, including the funds announced yesterday, has been provided by Ireland to Sudan in the last 12 months.
Some €5.6 million was dispersed through partnerships with non-government organisations including Concern, Trócaire and Goal.
In the weeks preceding the release of Goal workers Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki in October, the Department of Foreign Affairs had discussed the scope for Ireland providing additional assistance to Sudan.
A department spokeswoman said the additional funding was unrelated to those discussions.