21 March 2003
U.S. Aid Commitments to Iraq Have Increased, Boucher Says
(State Department Report, March 21: Iraq Aid/Turkey/Afghanistan) (650) By Jane Morse Washington File Staff Writer The total amount of U.S. assistance to Iraq is now up to $105 million -- $45 million more than originally planned, says State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher. At the March 21 State Department briefing, Boucher said that the assistance, which is being contributed to the United Nations or other international organizations, includes $60 million to the World Food Program for planning and logistical support costs and some food pre-positioning. Additional confirmed contributions, the spokesman said, include $20 million more for the World Food Program, $10 million more for the International Committee of the Red Cross, and about $14 million more for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration. The breakdown of the $105 million that's been committed so far, Boucher explained, is a total of $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, and $1.2 million to the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He also noted that on March 20 the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the release of 200,000 metric tons of wheat, and another 400,000 tons to be made available as needed, for the people of Iraq. This brings the amount of food the United States is providing to Iraqis to 610,000 metric tons worth $300 million, in addition to the $60 million in cash given to the World Food Program. On the issue of Turkey granting overflight rights to U.S. military planes flying missions over Iraq, Boucher said "there were certain steps that had to be done" and the United States "looked forward to those steps being taken." But he said "We do see the issues of overflights and northern Iraq as separate issues, and we think the overflight issue needs to be dealt with on its own." "We are talking to the Turkish government about coordinating to ensure that tensions don't arise on the border between Turkey and northern Iraq and to ensure that humanitarian needs of people in northern Iraq are taken care of," Boucher said. "I am not prepared at this point to say whether or not the (Turkish) military might approve part of that plan, part of that effort. But at this point, I'll just tell you that we are talking about the general topic of how to do this, and that those discussions continue." On Afghanistan, Boucher noted that the past year has been a good one thanks to "the strong leadership of President (Hamid) Karzai and his team, the resilience of the Afghan spirit, and the generous support of the American people and our friends in the international community." For the first time in decades, Afghanistan is largely at peace, Boucher said. Over 2.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons have finally been able to return to their homes, the Afghan government successfully introduced a new currency, and education and health services have improved. "New economic opportunities have also opened up," the spokesman said. "The World Bank estimates that the Afghan economy grew by 10 percent last year." The United States, Boucher said, pledges its continued support. "At a recent donors' conference in Brussels, the United States indicated that we intend to provide $820 million in assistance in the current fiscal year, up from $569 million last year. President Bush has made clear that no matter what obligations the United States must fulfill elsewhere, we will stay the course in Afghanistan." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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