Support for Sudan more critical than ever, says UN humanitarian update

Foreign aid and support to the Sudan is more important than ever as the prospects for peace rise, according to the latest humanitarian update from the African country.

A United Nations spokesman in New York said today that there was rising optimism among the people of the Sudan that there would soon be a peace agreement between the national government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

The spokesman added that the improving outlook made the question of support "more important than ever."

A humanitarian appeal for the Sudan will be launched tomorrow in Brussels, asking donors to give more than $450 million to help 3.5 million Sudanese displaced by years of civil war.