Following is the State Department statement:

U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman April 3, 2002

STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

U.S. Contributes $22.5 Million to International Organizations to Assist with the Recovery of Afghanistan

The United States is pleased to announce an additional contribution of $22.5 million to international organizations assisting with the recovery of Afghanistan. This contribution will support the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees will receive $20 million to facilitate the repatriation and reintegration of Afghan refugees and the internally displaced.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which will receive $1 million for the efforts of the Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General in coordinating humanitarian assistance activities among the Afghan Interim Authority, donors, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations. The World Health Organization will receive $1 million to provide basic health care for returning refugees and internally displaced persons. And, the UN Development Program will receive $500,000 to develop and maintain an information management system to enable access to accurate, and timely information.

The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan having contributed more than $343 million this fiscal year. This support will continue to be a primary policy goal of the U.S. Government. The United States believes the support of international organizations should be a shared international responsibility and calls on other donors to strengthen their efforts.