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