Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
| ||||||||||||
UN Refugee Agency to Make Cuts - UN Finance - Global Policy Forum UN Refugee Agency to Make Cuts
By Claire Doole
BBC
May 8, 2000
Geneva - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned that some of its programmes around the world face the axe because of a cash-flow crisis. The UNHCR is facing a $150m shortfall in its annual budget because of delays in receiving pledges from donor countries.
It says that south-eastern Europe will bear the brunt of the cuts, but that Africa, which has traditionally been underfunded, will escape unscathed. The UN refugee agency's coffers are almost bare.
They are at their lowest level for nearly a decade, due to delays in donor countries' contributions. Faced with the expected $150m shortfall, its offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America have been told to make cuts.
Bosnia-Hercegovina hit
The axe will fall hardest on UN programmes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. A spokesman said many of its measures to build up trust between the ethnic communities would be hit. This is likely to mean, for example, an end to UN-sponsored transport and business links between Serb, Muslim and Croatian towns.
Europe accounts for one-third of the UN refugee agency's budget and attracts the most donations. It is widely accepted that Europe can better afford the cuts than regions such as Africa, which is traditionally underfunded.
The UN has long accused donors of double standards in earmarking money for particular high-profile refugee crises. With the funds drying up, the UN is now deciding where aid priorities should be.
More Information on UN Programmes, Funds and Specialized Agencies
