Geneva, March 28, 2003

U.S. Contributes Additional $21 Million
to Geneva Humanitarian Organizations
for Aid Operations Related to the Iraq Crisis

 

The U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva has announced additional contributions totaling $21 million to four major humanitarian organizations in Geneva for their relief operations related to the Iraq crisis.

$6,000,000 for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in response to the UN Flash Appeal issued in March 2003. This amount is in addition to the $15 Million pledged earlier bringing the total contribution to UNHCR thus far to $21 Million.

$3,000,000 for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support programs responding to a possible humanitarian emergency due to the crisis in the Middle East. The funds are intended to support the delivery of relief supplies to refugees and other displaced persons in response to the Iraq and Neighboring Countries Emergency Appeal issued on March 20, 2003.

$2,000,000 to the International Organization for Migration in response to its contingency preparations for a possible humanitarian emergency in Iraq. This is in addition to a previous contribution of $630,000 for the same purpose, bringing total contributions to IOM for Iraq to $2,630,000.

$10,000,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in response to the Iraq Budget Extension appeal issued on March 20, 2003 which outlines ICRC protection and assistance activities in and around Iraq.

Ambassador Kevin E. Moley, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, confirmed the new contributions in letters to the heads of each of the four organizations sent on March 27. The funds are provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.