UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today welcomed Luxembourg’s decision to increase by nearly 33 per cent its allocation to the Fund’s regular resources. This would take Luxembourg’s contribution to about 727,000 euros for 2003.

“This substantial increase is a profoundly appreciated response to rising demands for resources to keep the world’s promise to prevent maternal deaths, unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS infections,” said UNFPA’s Executive Director, Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. “I hope this substantial increase will mark an intensification of donors’ efforts to reverse a recent dip in external assistance to implement the Cairo Conference Programme of Action. This is essential because the Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved without resources for reproductive health needs in developing countries.”

“This is another example of the generosity of the Government and people of Luxembourg, who provided the entire $4.5 million UNFPA sought in 2001 to assist women and men in Afghanistan,” Ms. Obaid added.

In a recent address to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, Ms. Obaid said that resources for the Cairo Programme of Action from developing countries and donors have dropped from $11.2 billion in 2000 to $9.4 billion in 2001. She urged greater efforts to fulfil the commitment to invest $17 billion a year for reproductive health and other population needs.

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UNFPA is the world’s largest multilateral source of population assistance. Since it became operational in 1969, the Fund has provided sustained assistance to developing countries to address their population and development needs.

Contact Information:

Abubakar Dungus
Tel.: +1 (212) 297-5031
Email: dungus@unfpa.org