The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has issued an urgent appeal for funds, warning that the organization may not be able to continue caring for the world's refugees if contributions remain scarce and unpredictable. Sadako Ogata said. I realize that donor countries are under pressure to reduce public spending, and I deeply appreciate their continued support. But I am very worried about the effect on refugees if we are forced to continue to cut back our programs.
Predictable funding is essential for our work.
Today the number of people of concern has gone down to 22 million, reflecting the consolidation of solutions to refugee problems. It is racing against time to bring food and relief items to the refugees before the onset of the rainy season, when roads will be washed away. It does not have the trucks it needs to ferry traumatized refugees who have fled fighting in eastern Sierra Leone from remote areas along the Guinean frontier to camps inland. Income projections this year fall short of requirements and as a result, cutbacks in activities are already being implemented. Field offices are reducing their programs to the most essential operations and related administrative support is being slashed.