Blair, Cameron And Campbell Announce Support Of Dec Appeal For Darfur And Chad
Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell have all recorded messages backing the DEC’s Darfur and Chad appeal and urging the public to give generously.
The political leaders were speaking in support of the UK’s leading international aid charities, who joined forces this week to launch an emergency appeal to save lives in Darfur, Chad and the Central African Republic. The video clips will also be available on YouTube later today.
Around 4.5 million people have been affected by ongoing conflict in the region and looming rains are bringing the risk of deadly conditions like diarrhoea and malaria, especially for children, pregnant mothers and older people. Aid agencies are appealing for money now so they can act immediately to reach those in need before the rains make it much harder to respond.
Transcripts
Prime Minister Tony Blair
I hope people can be generous as possible in support of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Darfur and Chad.
There are around about four and a half Million people affected by this very serious situation in deed.
Many people have died but also many people are in a situation of the most dire need.
So I hope and I am sure the British people will respond generously as they always do and this will be obviously in addition to the money that the UK government has been putting into the situation and in order to alleviate the humanitarian suffering.
In addition we are pressing for the Sudanese Government to stop the bombing and the violence and I will continue working for a very tough United Nations Security Council resolution - if they don’t listen to the appeal that is being launched by the United Nations Secretary General and act upon it immediately.
This is a very serious situation, it needs our help and it needs your help too.
David Cameron
The humanitarian crisis in Darfur is quite simply the worst in the world. I’ve been there, I’ve seen for myself the huge refugee camps, I’ve listened to stories of people who’ve lost relatives, who’ve lost loved ones, who’ve seen them killed in front of them. We must do more about this.
The only thing standing between these people and starvation and death are the international aid agencies. The rainy seasons are coming and the conditions are going to get worst and we’ve got to back our aid agencies. So I would urge you to give generously to this vital appeal and to back the fantastic work that our aid agencies are doing.
And at the same time keep up the pressure on the politicians who’ve got to help find a long term solution for this part of the world that so desperately needs our help.
Sir Menzies Campbell
Please give as generously as you can to the appeal for Darfur. 200,000 people have been killed. It is believed that as many as 2 million have been displaced from their homes. They have been threatened with rape and with violence.
The situation in Darfur is dire, the United Nations has done some things, but not enough. We must press the United Nations to take even stronger action. But, the people of Darfur can’t wait until that action is taken they need your help now.
And that’s why all three of the party leaders in the United Kingdom are joining together to support this appeal.
Please give as much as you possibly can.
