FINLAND: 2 MILLION EUROS FOR UN'S MAY APPEAL

UNCLAS HELSINKI 000228


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EC PGOV PHUM PK PREFA FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: 2 MILLION EUROS FOR UN'S MAY APPEAL

REF: STATE 58282


1. Charge Michael Butler delivered reftel demarche on
assistance for Pakistan's displaced persons to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs' Director General for Development Policy
Ritva Koukku-Ronde. Koukku-Ronde noted that Finland has
contributed over four million euros in assistance to
Pakistan, primarily through the United Nations (UN) and local
non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Finland provided 2
million euros (1 million euros to UNHCR's IDP program and 1
million euros to the World Food Program) in response to the
UN's May appeal.


2. In addition to the 2 million euros for the UN's May
appeal, in 2009 Finland also granted 700,000 euros in
humanitarian aid via UNICEF and 250,000 euros toward regional
development in Pakistan. Through NGOs, Finland granted
442,400 euros to fund ten local projects focused on the
health and education sectors, including 50,000 euros to the
Pakistan Red Cross for catastrophe preparedness. In late
2008, Finland provided 1 million euros to the Red Cross to
construct a research hospital in Peshawar.

BUTLER