OVER $111 MILLION PLEDGED FOR 1996 PROGRAMMES OF UNHCR

Press Release
GA/9002
REF/1126

OVER $111 MILLION PLEDGED FOR 1996 PROGRAMMES OF UNHCR

More than $111 million was pledged this morning for the 1996 programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the General Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee Meeting for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the UNHCR.

The representatives of the United States, Finland, Japan, Sweden, Ireland and the Russian Federation announced their Governments' intention to contribute at a later date.

The 22 States and Observer that announced pledges this morning were Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey.

Declaring the meeting open, General Assembly Vice-President, Nitya Pibulsonggram (Thailand), urged governments to make generous pledges as the UNHCR depended almost entirely on voluntary contributions. The pledges would have direct impact on the lives of some 27 million refugees and others of humanitarian concern who depended on the UNHCR for protection and help.

The High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, said the total needs for 1996 would exceed $1.1 billion. Priority would be given to funding of long-term solutions for refugees and displaced persons.

In closing remarks, she thanked the donors and urged governments to pay their pledges early and announce further contributions as early as possible.

Opening Statements

Mr. PIBULSONGGRAM (Thailand), General Assembly Vice-President, said that, in addition to the 14.5 million refugees of its concern, the Office of the High Commissioner had assisted 4 million returning refugees, 5.4 million internally displaced persons, and 3.5 million others of humanitarian concern, most of them war-affected populations. The High Commissioner also assisted

UNHCR Pledging Conference - 2 - Press Release GA/9002 1st Meeting (AM) REF/1126 17 November 1995

more than 2 million refugees in Africa's Great Lakes region and 3.5 million refugees and displaced persons and victims of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. There also were victims of other conflicts. This year saw the successful completion of the voluntary repatriation of some 1.6 million Mozambicans.

As the UNHCR financial needs were expected to exceed $1 billion for the fifth consecutive year, the Vice-President urged governments to make generous pledges today.

Mrs. OGATA, the High Commissioner for Refugees, said her organization's growth had stabilized and would be consolidated. She would ensure that the UNHCR was an effective and efficient body. She was launching some management initiatives to further improve cost-effectiveness in 1996.

For 1995, she added, the UNHCR was facing requirements of just under $1.3 billion. About a third of that was for general programmes, while the rest was for special programmes, major repatriations and emergencies. The Office had so far received just over $800 million in new contributions this year. She requested a last effort from donors in the next six weeks to close the funding gaps in the Office's general programmes, the emergency operation for Rwanda and Burundi and repatriations in the Horn of Africa and to Mozambique.

She said the initial projections for 1996 were estimated at some $770 million. That was the initial budget figure, consisting of $445 million for general programmes and $325 million for special programmes. That target had been drawn up in early 1995 and was unlikely to represent the actual needs for 1996. When one considered its operations in the Great Lakes region of Africa, the former Yugoslavia and other programmes, the special programmes need would certainly double. The total needs for 1996 would exceed $1.1 billion. In 1996, the priority would be the funding of long-term solutions for refugees and displaced persons. That priority was found in the 1996 general programmes. She called on the international community to help with the UNHCR major challenges. Governments should help assure her Office's funding needs in 1996.

Closing Statement

In her closing statement, Mrs. OGATA said the total pledged would provide a sound basis to begin implementing programmes in the first quarter of 1996. She expressed appreciation for the pledges and the intentions expressed. Governments should make early payments of their pledges and, where possible, announce further contributions as soon as possible. That would provide a sound predictable basis on which to plan and implement the UNHCR programmes.

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Pledges Announced

Following is a list of pledges for the UNHCR 1996 programmes:

Country Local Currency US$ Equivalent

Australia A$ 13.5 million 10,150,376 Austria a/ 4.5 million schillings 459,184 Belgium a/ 97 million French francs 3,344,828 China 250,000 Denmark a/ 100 million kroner 18,382,353 Djibouti 1,000 Egypt 6,000 pounds 1,780 Germany a/b 17.2 million marks 12,266,429 Greece 300,000 Holy See c/ 10,000 Hungary 20,000 Iceland 4.5 million kroner 68,913 Liechtenstein 50,000 Swiss francs 44,248 Luxembourg a/ 3 million francs 103,448 Morocco 15,000 Netherlands 46 million guilders 29,299,363 Norway a/ 150 million kroner 24,000,000 Republic of Korea 700,000 Sri Lanka 5,000 Switzerland a/ 13 million Swiss francs 11,504,425 Tunisia 5,000 dinars 5,319 Turkey a/ 150,000

_----------_ a/ Subject to legislative approval.

b Comprises 9 million marks, general budget; 4.173 million marks, funds-in-trust projects; 4 million marks, refugee students in the Albert Einstein special programme.

c/ Comprises $5,000, general programmes; $5,000, East Africa.

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