Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 14, 2008
US Contributes More Than $125 Million to International Organizations to Aid Displaced IraqisThe United States is making an immediate contribution of more than $125 million to help provide displaced Iraqis protection and assistance. This is in addition to $46 million committed by the United States in January 2008 and $171 million provided by the United States during fiscal year 2007. These contributions are part of our large-scale efforts to protect refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict victims worldwide.
The new contributions support relief efforts by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Food Program (WFP) and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to Iraqis who have been displaced from their homes.
Our immediate contributions will include:
- $83 million for UNHCR’s $261 million Iraq Situation Supplementary Appeal for 2008. Through this appeal, UNHCR will ensure protection and access to essential services for displaced Iraqis in Iraq and the neighboring countries, improve access to education and health services for Iraqi refugees, and enhance its preparedness and response capacity inside Iraq. Coming on the heels of an earlier $12.4 million committed to the health portion of this appeal, the U.S. will have contributed 37% of the total appeal.
- $2.4 million for the UNICEF portion of the joint UN Education Appeal providing education opportunities to Iraqi children in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
- $1 million for UNICEF portion and $2 million for WHO portion of the Joint United Nations Health Appeal providing medical assistance to Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Syria and Egypt. The UN’s health appeal will expand primary health access by hiring additional health care personnel, purchasing medicines and supplies, expanding health education, and assisting national health authorities to strengthen their information and disease surveillance systems.
- $5 million for WFP’s Emergency Operation in Syria. WFP plans to distribute basic food rations to 155,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria at the beginning of 2008, increasing by some 17,300 beneficiaries per month, reaching a total of 362,000 Iraqis refugees by the end of 2008.
- More than $32 million to other international organizations.
In addition to these contributions to international organizations, we also expect to issue a request soon for proposals from non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to Iraqi refugees.
Agency
|
Agency's Appeal
|
U.S. Government Contribution
(in millions)
|
| UNHCR |
Iraq Situation Supplementary Appeal
|
$83.0
|
| UNICEF |
Joint UN Education Appeal
|
$2.4
|
| UNICEF |
Joint UN Health Appeal
|
$1.0
|
| WHO |
Joint UN Health Appeal
|
2.0
|
| WFP |
Emergency Operation in Syria
|
$5.0
|
| Other International Organizations |
|
$32.5
|
| |
|
|
| |
Total February ‘08 |
$125.9 million |
| Non-governmental and international organizations |
Total January ‘08 |
$46.1 million |
| |
Total FY08 to date |
$172 million |
| |
Total FY07 |
$171 million |
| |
TOTAL FY07 & FY08 to date |
$343 million |
Released on February 14, 2008
| 
