The following press release was issued February 5, 2003 in Washington, D.C.

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 5, 2003

U.S. Contributes An Additional $15 Million To Assist Afghan Conflict Victims

The United States is pleased to announce a contribution of $15 million to the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for its 2003 Supplementary
Program for Afghan refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons. This
contribution will help the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
continue to provide protection and emergency and reintegration assistance to
millions of Afghan returnees, refugees, and internally displaced persons. As
part of an earlier, initial $65 million contribution to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees 2003 programs, the United States contributed $6
million to support the programs benefiting Afghan refugees.

In 2002, the U.S. contributed more than $67 million to the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees for its Afghan operations, the largest contribution
of any donor state. Most of those funds were used to assist in the repatriation
and reintegration of 1.8 million Afghan refugees and internally-displaced
persons, one of the largest refugee repatriations in the last 30 years.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that it will
facilitate the return and reintegration of at least another 1.2 million Afghan
refugees and 300,000 internally displaced persons in 2003.

The massive repatriation operation in 2002 was possible only with the support
of the United States and the rest of the international community. Continued
success, likewise, depends on the sustained generous support of the
international community. We urge other donors to do their share and support the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in its crucial work to assist
Afghan refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons.
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