Implementation of 58 Projects in East Sudan Stalled by Lack of Finance

Khartoum, Oct. 3 (SUNA) - The steering committee of the Eastern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund announced that the implementation of 58 projects in east Sudan was stalled due to the lack of a local component to open the Arab and donors funds, as well as the failure of the previous government to fulfill its financial commitments to East Sudan Rehabilitation and Development Fund, estimated at 252 million dollars out of the 600 million dollars that it was committed pay according to the agreement signed between them in the year 2006, which was set to expire after five years, but it extended for more than 10 years. In a press statement, the Executive Director of the fund and head of the steering committee, Maj. Gen. (police), Abu-Mohamed Gaafar, said that the meeting which brought together the Walis (governors) of Kassala, Gedarif and the Red Sea, was one for briefing and creating integration between the Fund and the development projects in the three states to help the country carry out its development role in east Sudan. He pointed out that the Fund has established large projects of roads, bridges, electricity, schools, education, health and water in the three states, but there are some projects that have been stalled due the lack of finance and the inflation. He thanked the donors from Kuwait, the Jeddah-based Al-Ahli Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic Development and all those who contributed to providing finance for the fund. AA/MO