The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) March 24 issued a fact sheet noting $105 million in United States' contributions for humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

March 24, 2003

U.S. ASSISTANCE TO THE UN AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF IN IRAQ

The USG [U.S. Government] has contributed over $105 million to the United Nations and other international organizations for pre-positioning and early response, including $60 million to the WFP [World Food Program] for planning and logistical support costs and some food pre-positioning.

Additional assistance is in the pipeline for the U.N. and other international organizations.

Funding for international organizations includes:

-- $60 million to the World Food Program;
-- $21 million to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees;
-- $10 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross;
-- $8.6 million to the International Organization for Migration;
-- $3 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies;
-- $2 million to UNICEF [U.N. Children's Fund]; and
-- $1.2 million to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

On March 20th, the Bush Administration announced the immediate release of 200,000 MT [metric tons] of wheat from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, with another 400,000 metric tons to be made available as needed.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.

For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief efforts in Iraq, please visit www.usaid.gov/iraq/.