United Nations Radio

The UN Food and Agriculture organization has called for $40 million to support its agricultural relief and recovery activities in Sudan in 2006.

In its appeal Monday, FAO says humanitarian assistance needs to be coupled with longer-term development aid to ensure lasting peace in the country.

The head of FAO's Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division, Anne Bauer, says supporting returnees seeking to resettle will be a top priority.

She says FAO wants to ensure adequate materials and services to enable returnees to engage in agricultural, livestock or fisheries-based livelihoods upon their return will be central to the process.