At least $2.1 million US fund to be used in Burundi

At least US $2.1 million US fund to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will be used in Burundi, a statement from the US department of state said on Tuesday. The US government has contributed $35.9 million to the organisation in response to its 2001 emergency appeals for field operations, out of which Africa has been allocated $18.2 million. It is out of the Africa kitty that Burundi will get at least $2.1 million. ICRC provides protection and humanitarian assistance throughout the world in areas of armed conflict. In more than 60 countries, it assists and protects more than 5,000,000 conflict victims and displaced persons. ICRC is often the only international organisation allowed to move freely within occupied territories, to cross combatant lines, to access prisoners of detention centres, and to act as an intermediary in prisoners of war exchanges.

“The United States has the highest regard for the difficult and often dangerous work of the ICRC staff of over 9,000 in providing assistance and protection to victims of conflict,” the statement said. “Our contributions are indicative of our strong support for its crucial role in international humanitarian assistance,” it said. For the 2001 financial year, US total contributions to ICRC to date is $116,3 million.