The following press release was issued in Washington, D. C. on 12 March 2004
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 12, 2004

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

The United States Contributes an Additional $58.9 Million
to the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees

The United States is pleased to announce an additional contribution of $58.9 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support its 2004 programs. Of this contribution, $55 million is provided in support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees annual programs worldwide; the remaining $3.9 million is specifically to help strengthen its capacity to provide for the legal and physical protection of refugees. This contribution brings the total U.S. support for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2004 to nearly $150 million for its annual programs and other activities.

The $55 million announced today for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees annual programs is provided as follows:
Africa - $25 million
Europe - $6.5 million
Near East - $1 million
South Asia - $9 million
East Asia - $2.5 million
Western Hemisphere - $1 million
Global Operations/Headquarters - $10 million

The $3.9 million for protection activities advances the U.S. priority of ensuring the protection of refugees, especially for refugee women and refugee children. The funds will be used to support the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Protection Surge Capacity project, as well as additional permanent protection and community services positions worldwide.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is a key U.S. partner in critical international humanitarian endeavors in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and elsewhere throughout the world. The United States is the largest donor. Our funding helps support the UN agency responsible for protection of and assistance to the world's refugees, which addresses the needs of the more than 20 million refugees and other persons of concern to the organization.

The United States believes the protection and care of refugees and the pursuit of permanent solutions to refugee crises are shared international responsibilities, and urges fellow donors to provide generous support for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees programs. The United States will make additional contributions later in the year.

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