September 15, 2005

UNITED STATES SUPPORTS UN WORK IN NEPAL

As the 60th United Nations General Assembly meets, the U.S. Embassy takes this opportunity to highlight America’s contributions to the UN and to UN agencies operating in Nepal.

The United States, the single largest financial contributor to the United Nations each year since its creation in 1945, continues to support the UN as an instrument to foster international peace and security; to fight poverty through development; to eradicate diseases; and to advance freedom, human rights, and democracy.

In Nepal, all of these goals are crucial. The U.S. Government provides significant support to UN offices in Nepal including UNICEF, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2005, such direct support totaled almost USD $3.5 million. The United States also granted an additional $4.5 million to help fund the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India.

Much of this support is channeled through USAID -- the U.S. Agency for International Development -- with $1.65 million going to UNICEF and WHO’s initiatives in water, sanitation, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and polio; $250,000 going to UNDP’s democracy and good governance programs; and $850,000 for UNDP and OHCHR programs to assure the respect for human rights. The State Department also added $500,000 this year for OHCHR and $223,000 for the UN’s Tibetan Refugee Reception Center.

The U.S. Embassy is especially pleased to highlight U.S. support to establish the OHCHR, which can play a crucial role in moving the human rights situation in Nepal in a positive direction. To date, the United States has provided $1.2 million for this important effort.

America is a leader and friend when it comes to helping those in need.  Both in Nepal and around the world, the United States will continue to work with partners, public and private, to alleviate the scourges of poverty, hunger, and disease.

Note: Detailed fact sheets on U.S. support for the UN are attached.

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