September 29, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today, following a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in New York, that Canada is contributing an additional $5 million to help respond to emerging needs of Afghan refugees and internally displaced people in the region. This brings Canada's contribution to the current crisis to $6 million.

"We are concerned about the welfare of the refugees and the people amassing along the borders of Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries," said the Prime Minister. "Canada has always been there in such emergency situations and we cannot turn our backs. We will continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly."

The funds will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency and will be used to respond to the immediate needs of those affected by the situation and to help efforts to cope with the expected flow of refugees and internally displaced people. The contribution will be as follows:

• $1.5 million for food aid;
• $1.5 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross;
• $1.2 million for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees;
• $500,000 for CARE Canada; and,
• $300,000 for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Long-term conflict, persistent drought and the tension caused by the recent terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11 have led to an increase in the number of refugees and internally displaced people relying on aid for survival. According to the United Nations' worst-case scenario, the number of people at risk could jump from 5 million to 7.5 million people.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2000 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

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