An initial US$3.5 million (¤2.43 million) has been pledged for a U.N. trust fund set up to help civilians and promote law and order efforts in Chad and the Central African Republic, , according to AP. The contributions, announced Monday by the U.N., are an extension of the world body's efforts to ease difficulties confronting those two countries as they grapple with Darfur refugees and others displaced by the fighting in southern Sudan. The pledges come several months after the Security Council in late September authorized 300 U.N. international police and 50 military liaison officers as well as civilian personnel to help protect thousands in the countries. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a U.N. Trust Fund to support the activities of the U.N. Mission in Chad and the Central African Republic to assist the two countries «to build law and order capacity to ensure the security of refugees and internally displaced persons made vulnerable by the spillover of violence from Darfur,» the U.N. spokesman's office said in a statement. Japan has contributed US$2.2 million to the Trust Fund, Norway US$1 million (¤690,000) and Belgium 250,000 Euros (about US$360,000). «Discussions are advanced with the European Commission for a contribution of 10 million Euros (US$14.4 million),» the U.N. statement said. Ban welcomed «the generous donations» and appealed to other countries to support the Trust Fund.
