PHA-Exchange> RECORD NUMBER OF DONORS SUPPORT UN POPULATION AGENCY THIS YEAR

[Aviva]

RECORD NUMBER OF DONORS SUPPORT UN POPULATION AGENCY THIS YEAR
New York, Dec 19 2003 10:00AM
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) received contributions from
a record 142 countries in 2003 - the largest number in its 
history, the agency said today.

The top six donors were the Netherlands, Japan, Norway, the United
Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden. The United States was not among 
the countries backing the Fund this year.

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said level of support had
surpassed the agency's expectations. "This is strong 
evidence that countries, from every region of the world, have
confidence in the Fund." Regular resources for UNFPA in 2003 were 
approximately $294 million.

The number of donors more than doubled since 1999 when the agency
received funding from just 69 States. New donors in 2003 
included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Hungary, the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Somalia, Swaziland, 
Tajikistan, Timor-Leste and Uzbekistan.

"UNFPA works hard to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women in
developing countries, to prevent HIV infections and to help 
couples plan their families and avoid unintended pregnancies," said Ms.
Obaid. "We can now meet more of the demands for 
reproductive health care in the 150 countries where we work."

According to the agency, about 350 million couples still lack access to
a range of safe, effective and affordable contraceptive 
methods, while only half of all births in developing countries take
place with a trained attendant.
  2003-12-19 00:00:00.000