U.S. Mission Geneva Banner Graphic
Press Releases for the Year 2001Older Press Releases from the year 2000Older Press Releases from 1999Back to List of Press Releases from 2001

U.S. CONTRIBUTES ADDITIONAL $46.5 MILLION TO UNHCR
Support for programs in various regions and countries around the world


The United States has announced that it will contribute an additional $U.S. 46,520,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support UNHCR programs in various regions and countries of the world.

James B. Foley, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim, U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva informed High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers of the additional contributions in a July 16 letter.

The new funds bring the total U.S. contribution to UNHCR during 2001 to approximately $220,000,000. The United States is the largest single donor to UNHCR's programs, which are funded by direct voluntary contributions.

More than half of the new funds are allocated for UNHCR operations in Africa, including $2.2 million for programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, $2 million for Ethiopia, $2.24 million for Kenya and $3.1 for programs in Tanzania.

Some $6 Million is slated for programs in the Balkans including $2.5 million for special emergency programs in Macedonia, $2.5 million to support repatriation and returns within the Balkan region, and $1 million for women's initiatives in Bosnia and Kosovo.

The amount of $1 million is specifically earmarked for programs related to UNHCR staff security.

The $46,520,000 contribution is allocated as follows:
Africa $24,950,000
Eastern Europe and Central Asia $2,800,000
South Eastern Europe $6,500,000
East Asia $2,800,000
Near East $1,200,000
South Asia $4,000,000
Security $1,000,000
Resettlement Activities $1,500,000
Junior Professional Program $1,700,000
IGC Activities $70,000

Detailed break out of contribution:

AFRICA
The $24,950,000 contribution to support UNHCR's programs in Africa is earmarked at the country level as specified below and is for programs included in the 2001 Global Appeal, unless otherwise noted.

East Africa/Horn of Africa

$290,000 for programs in Djibouti
$2,000,000 for country programs in Ethiopia
$2,240,000 for country programs in Kenya
$610,000 for programs in Somalia
$950,000 for programs in Sudan
$1,710,000 for programs in Uganda

The Great Lakes Region and Central Africa

$300,000 for programs in the Central African Republic
$200,000 for programs in Chad
$2,220,000 for programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
$320,000 for programs in Gabon
$910,000 for programs in Rwanda
$610,000 for programs in the Republic of the Congo (ROC)
$3,160,000 for programs in Tanzania
(Of this amount, $1,000,00 is further earmarked to support improved camp security)
$1,020,000 for Great Lakes Regional Projects

Southern Africa

$420,000 for refugee programs in Angola
$200,000 to support UNHCR/UNFPA efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence among refugees and IDPs in Angola
$200,000 for programs in Botswana
$100,000 for programs in Malawi
$120,000 for programs in Mozambique
$360,000 for programs in Namibia
$330,000 for country programs in South Africa
$1,370,000 for programs in Zambia
$100,000 for programs in Zimbabwe

West Africa

$630,000 for country programs in Cote d'Ivoire
$100,000 for programs in Ghana
$2,850,000 for programs in Guinea
$1,170,000 for programs in Liberia
$110,000 for programs in Nigeria
$130,000 for programs in Senegal
$220,000 for programs in Sierra Leone

Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The $2,800,000 contribution to support UNHCR's programs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is earmarked as specified below and is included in the 2001 appeal:

$1,400,000 for the North Caucasus special operation
$1,400,000 for programs protecting and assisting populations of concern (Tajik refugees and returnees, Chechen refugees outside Russia, including those in Azerbaijan, other displaced persons within Azerbaijan, those displaced by the conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Meskhetian Turks) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

South Eastern Europe

The $6,500,000 contribution to support UNHCR's programs in South Eastern Europe is earmarked as specified below and is for programs included in the 2001 global appeal:

$400,000 for the Bosnian Women's Initiative
$500,000 for protection-related activities in Bosnia, including legal aid centers and other assistance to promote minority returns in the region
$600,000 for the Kosovo Women's Initiative
$2,500,000 for activities to promote the return of refugees and displaced persons in the Balkans, particularly voluntary returns from Yugoslavia to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, returns from Serbia and Montenegro to Kosovo, the work of the Joint Committee on Returns and other similar initiatives in Kosovo, and minority stabilization activities in Kosovo.
$2,500,000 in support of the new supplementary program for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia emergency.

East Asia

$2,800,000 for the 2001 Global Appeal

Near East
$1,200,000 for the 2001 Global Appeal

South Asia
$4,000,000 for the 2001 Global Appeal. Of the South Asia contribution, $238,000 is earmarked for maintenance and medical care of Tibetan refugees at the Katmandu Reception Center in Nepal and $400,000 is earmarked to support UNHCR's Sri Lanka operation for IDPs.

Security
$1,000,000 is to support staff security costs as set forth in the Addendum to the 2001 Global Appeal

Resettlement
$1,500,000 is to support UNHCR's resettlement activities.

Junior Professional Officer Program
$1,700,000 is to support Junior Professional Officers sponsored by the U.S. government

ICG Activities
$70,000 is to support activities implemented under the Unit of the Coordinator for Intergovernmental Consultations on Asylum Refugee, and Migration Policies in Europe, North America, and Australia.