Brussels, 19/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has allocated a further €17 million for life-saving humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Darfur crisis, bringing its contribution for 2006 to a total amount of €97 million. This new humanitarian aid builds on previous Commission aid, notably the €40 million in humanitarian aid announced by President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Michel during their visit to Darfur last October (EUROPE 9277). Since 2004, the Commission has allocated relief aid worth more than €357 million in response to the Darfur crisis in the west of Sudan. The humanitarian crisis has caused two million people to be displaced and more than 210,000 have sought refuge in Chad. At the same time, because of the spill-over of the conflict into Chad, thousands of Chadians have crossed the border in the other direction and are now refugees in Darfur. A press release indicated that this new aid aims to enhance the protection of civilians and provide basic assistance (including water supplies and treatment of malnourished children). The funds will be channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, ECHO, to help projects implemented by non-governmental relief organisations, specialised UN agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement.