2005 Press Releases

U.S. Government Supports Humanitarian Issues in West Africa

November 21, 2005

Freetown

Contact: PAO
Tel: 226481

The U.S. Government Department of State (Foreign Affairs) recently announced that during the 2005 fiscal year it spent $331 million (Le 966 billion) to help refugees and victims of conflicts across Africa.  That large effort underscores the importance of humanitarian issues to the government and people of the United States.  
 
The State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) explained that in Sierra Leone the main continuing goals are to assist the repatriation and reintegration of Liberian refugees and conflict victims, ensure care and protection of refugees, and respond to emergency needs of refugees and conflict victims. 
 
The bulk of the PRM contributions (about 87 percent) fund the important humanitarian work of international organizations like the UN High Commission for Refugees, the International Red Cross, the International Red/Red Crescent Societies, the World Food Program, and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
 
In addition to the substantial general funding to support the work of international organizations across the continent, PRM allotted specific amounts for Sierra Leone.  That included a special $3,750,000 (nearly Le 11 billion) to UNHCR’s Global Appeal, another $46,375 to hire an added professional officer at UNHCR, and $20,000 to the US Embassy in Freetown for the Ambassador’s Special Fund Project to conduct hygiene sensitization in primary schools in Liberian refugee camps.
 
Within the overall contribution for Africa, PRM assistance set aside specifically for West Africa totaled $43.3 million. The U.S. Government also provides substantial in-kind food aid for refugees through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Food for Peace program, further emphasizing the importance the U.S. places on humanitarian issues on the African continent as a whole and in West Africa in particular.
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