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The African Union (AU) has donated the sum of $500, 000.(Five Hundred thousand USD) to Angola, Algeria, Sahrawi Arab Republic, Egypt, Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire, DRC, Ethiopia through UNHCR and International Federation of Red Cross as initial contribution in efforts to face the challenges of refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) on the continent. This gesture of generosity and solidarity was part of the activities commemorating the Africa World Refugee Day, observed globally every June 20. 
 

At a ceremony held at the AU Headquarters on Friday June 25, the Commissioner of Political Affairs of the Union, Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner, while presenting checks to the recipients, stated that it was the wish of the Continental organization to "put an end to the plague of forced displacement in Africa." In this regard, members of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) (Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons) in 2010 alone, have multiplied field visits to refugee camps and made recommendations on technical aspects and financial support, of which the check presentation ceremony was a part. The subcommittee is also engaged in finding the way forward and highlighting the work accomplished by the AU on the ground. According to Mr. Mull Katende, Chairperson of the PRC Sub-Committee, "the aim is to create conditions that will not allow forced displacement to continue, and to contain and reduce the existing numbers". 
 
At a policy level, it is worth recalling that the African Union has developed the first ever instrument for the protection and assistance of IDP's. Adopted in October 2009 at the AU Summit on refugees, returnees and IDP's, in Kampala, Uganda, the AU Convention for the protection and assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa has so far been ratified by the Republic of Uganda and signed by 27 AU Member states.