Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC

U.S. Contributes $18.7 Million for Afghanistan Recovery


July 1, 2002

The United States is pleased to announce an additional contribution of
$18.7 million to international organizations providing assistance to
returning refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict victims
in Afghanistan. This contribution will support the activities of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International
Committee of the Red Cross This contribution comes from the State
Department s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and brings
the total U.S. funding provided to more than $140 million this fiscal
year for refugee assistance, repatriation and reintegration to the
Afghan people.

The Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees will receive $7.7
million to facilitate the repatriation and reintegration of Afghan
refugees and internally displaced persons. The International Committee
of the Red Cross will receive $11.0 million in support of its
protection and emergency assistance activities benefiting Afghans in
areas that are particularly difficult to access.

The Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration
has provided over $140 million to international efforts to respond to
the Afghan crisis and the repatriation of more than 1.5 million
refugees and internally displaced persons. The Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration recently fulfilled its portion of the Tokyo
pledge of $52.6 million for Afghanistan. The United States believes the
support of these international relief organizations should be a shared
multilateral responsibility and calls on other donors to strengthen
their efforts.