$26 million paid so far to UN fund supporting Afghan Interim Authority
With a number of countries recently stepping up with more contributions, a United Nations fund set up to support the interim government of Afghanistan has received more than half of the $50 million needed, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said today.
With a number of countries recently stepping up with more contributions, a United Nations fund set up to support the interim government of Afghanistan has received more than half of the $50 million needed, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said today.
Some $26 million has actually been received from international donors over the past three months, according to UNDP, which set up the Afghan Interim Authority Fund in cooperation with Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan.
More than 20 countries have pledged a total of $37 million, underlining “the seriousness of the international community in helping the Afghan authorities build up their government institutions,” said UNDP Assistant Administrator Julia Taft, who manages the Fund.
Since January, the Fund has enabled the Afghan Interim Authority to pay civil service salaries and cover crucial administrative costs, such as repairing government buildings, purchasing office equipment and automating the payroll system.