UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today welcomed the expression of support from the more than 50 African countries in the United Nations, which jointly wrote the United States Administration, urging it to restore its contributions to the Fund. The Administration has withheld $34 million appropriated for UNFPA by Congress.

"I deeply appreciate Africa's vote of confidence in UNFPA's work to save lives by helping to reduce maternal deaths and slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries," said Thoraya Obaid, the Fund's Executive Director. "UNFPA will continue playing its role in promoting the development of Africa and other developing regions by providing concrete assistance in line with its resources and mandate."

Africa is a major beneficiary of UNFPA's programmes and the sizeable reduction in its budget due to the recent funding decision will have a negative impact on the continent's population programmes, the African countries stated in their letter to the United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

"We are particularly disturbed by its potential impact on our efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS, promote family planning and improve the lives of children, especially the girl-child and of women, which are all critical for Africa's growth and development," they wrote.

"The least developed countries, thirty-four of which are in Africa, receive the bulk of UNFPA's funding and will be the most affected," the African countries stated, reaffirming their support for the Fund. "The African Group of countries believes that its collaboration with UNFPA on population programs in Africa best serves its needs and it has strong confidence in the integrity of its programs, which derive from the outcome of the International Conference on Population and Development."

"We are strengthened in that confidence," the African States continued, "by the positive report of the fact finding team sent by the United States to China to investigate the allegations on the basis of which the decision to withhold funds was made. "

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UNFPA is the world's largest multilateral source of population assistance. Since it became operational in 1969, it has provided more than $5.6 billion in assistance to developing countries. The United Nations General Assembly has welcomed the Fund's contributions towards improving the quality of human life.

Contact Information:

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