*EPF205 07/31/01
Text: State Department Announces New Aid to Red Cross
($36 million contributed to humanitarian assistance) (420)

The U.S. State Department July 31 announced a $35.9 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to assist the humanitarian work of the organization.

The United States has already given $116.3 million to the ICRC this year, so the latest donation comes as a response to an emergency appeal from the humanitarian organization, which is working in more than 60 countries, assisting more than 5 million conflict victims and displaced persons.

Following is the text of the statement:

(begin text)

PRESS STATEMENT

Charles F. Hunter, Acting Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 31, 2001

U.S. Contributes $35.9 Million To International Committee Of The Red Cross

The United States is pleased to announce an additional contribution of $35.9 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in response to its 2001 Emergency Appeals for field operations.

The Geneva-based organization provides protection and humanitarian assistance throughout the world in areas of armed conflict. In more than sixty countries, the International Committee of the Red Cross assists and protects more than 5,000,000 conflict victims and displaced persons. The International Committee of the Red Cross is often the only international organization allowed to move freely within occupied territories, to cross combatant lines, to access prisoners or detention centers, and to act as an intermediary in prisoner of war exchanges.

The United States has the highest regard for the difficult and often dangerous work of the International Committee of the Red Cross' staff of over 9,000 in providing assistance and protection to victims of conflict. Our contributions are indicative of our strong support for its crucial role in international humanitarian assistance. The FY 2001 total contributions to date to ICRC is $116.3 million.

The contribution is allocated by regions:

-- Africa - $18.2 million (of which at least $2.1 million is to be used in Burundi)

-- Western Hemisphere - $2.7 million (of which at least $1.5 million is to be used in Colombia)

-- Europe - $9.2 million (of which at least $1.6 million is to be used in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia); this contribution may also be used as a priority to support ICRC activities in response to the crisis in Macedonia.

-- Near East - $2.9 million

-- South Asia - $1.0 million (of which at least $0.5 million is to be used in Afghanistan)

-- East Asia - $1.9 million
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