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Oxfam launches celebrity auction as part of Darfur appeal

LONDON: International relief agency Oxfam began taking bids on Tuesday in an online celebrity auction aimed at raising money for its work in Darfur and neighbouring Chad. The auction, which will see the prized possessions of several celebrities sold to the public, is part of a five-million-pound (7.4-million-euro, 10-million-dollar) appeal launched by the charity on April 16. Among the items on offer are pop star Elton John’s tailor-made Donatella Versace suit, a script of hit film The Queen signed by Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s Dolce and Gabbana jacket, and gold-coloured designer shoes signed by actress Sienna Miller.

“I’m delighted to donate this suit … and hope it raises lots of cash for the people of Darfur who have already suffered too much,” Elton John said.

“Oxfam is reaching 500,000 people … but to reach more people they need our help.”

Four years of ethnic strife in Darfur, in western Sudan, have resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and displaced more than two million people, according to UN figures. The conflict has since spread into neighbouring Chad.

Oxfam said its work in the two countries was its biggest emergency program in the world, costing about $US10 million ($11.96 million) a year.

Also available for fans to bid on are the red dress worn by Corinne Bailey Rae in her hit music video Put Your Records On, and two photographs by war photographer Don McCullen, one of which is signed, of the crisis.

The charity, which hopes to raise about $US500,000 ($597,835) from the celebrity auction, encouraged members of the public to put items of their own up for sale at www.oxfam.org.uk/darfurauction.

Oxfam said it is providing aid to 530,000 people in the two countries - 470,000 in Darfur, and 60,000 in Chad.

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir recently agreed to allow a first phase deployment of some 3000 UN troops to boost an ineffective African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur.

But he has objected to key elements of a larger operation of 20,000 UN peacekeepers, including allowing the UN to share command of the forces with their AU counterparts.

AP