Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 13, 2003
U.S. Provides an Additional $10 Million to Feed Refugees in AfricaThe United States has provided an additional $10 million to the World Food Program to meet critical shortfalls in refugee feeding operations in Africa. This contribution was made in response to an urgent appeal issued by World Food Program and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on February 14 seeking $84 million to meet refugee food needs over the next six months. An additional $5 million is planned. We urge other donors to also respond.
The bulk of United States food aid for drought and conflict victims, including refugees, is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development which has pledged over $280 million in food commodities to the World Food Program to date this fiscal year.
This additional $10 million was provided by the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and will benefit more than 1.5 million refugees in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and Algeria. The United States expresses its appreciation to these countries for their generosity in hosting refugees.
Released on March 13, 2003
|