Funding for Kosovo operation

UNHCR has spent all the cash it had available for the Kosovo emergency operation, and is asking for a new infusion of funds immediately. UNHCR had appealed for funds as part of a series of consolidated appeals issued by all UN agencies and the IOM.

UNHCR had asked for a total of $143 million for its operation on behalf of refugees and displaced from Kosovo, for the period through 30 June ($106.6 million from the special Donor Alerts and $36.4 million for Kosovo from the Consolidated Appeal issued end 1998). So far just under half of that amount, or $71 million, has been received in the form of new contributions, but it has all been spent or fully committed, together with $6 million remaining from 1998 funds. The biggest governmental donor to date is Japan ($23.1 million), followed by the USA ($8.5 million), Denmark and the Netherlands ($3.4 million each), Canada and Switzerland ($3.3 million each). Private donors in Italy have contributed the remarkable sum of $8.7 million. The High Commissioner is appealing especially to European donor countries and to the European Commission to support UNHCR's operation.