U.S. CONTRIBUTES $5.5 MILLION FOR
EMERGENCY NEEDS IN THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

First Installments of a Total of $10 Million Pledged


The United States has made payments totaling $U.S. 5,500,000 to two United Nations agencies based in Geneva for their programs to assist refugees and conflict victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The funding is part of a total $10 million pledge for the refugee emergency announced in Washington by the U.S. Department of State on February 1, 2001.

"The United States is deeply concerned about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," said Ambassador George E. Moose, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva. "Nearly two million people have been displaced. As the rainy season approaches the food and health situation are growing increasingly desperate."

The emergency funding released this week is allocated as follows:

-- $3.5 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for Congolese refugees in neighboring states and refugee populations within the Democratic Republic of Congo

-- $2 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the coordination of humanitarian activities and implementation of quick impact projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The funds are provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.

Ambassador Moose confirmed the contributions in letters sent this week to the heads of each of the two agencies.

In addition, the following funds have also been pledged:

-- $ 2.5 million to the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund for the procurement and distribution of essential pharmaceuticals in Congo.

-- $1.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for emergency assistance programs for internally displaced persons.

-- $500,000 to the United Nations Security Coordinator for the deployment of field security advisors to help ensure safe working conditions for United Nations and Non-governmental relief workers.

The $10 million assistance package complements on-going U.S. government emergency programs in the DRC that totaled $32.6 million in Fiscal Year 2000.