Rome (Fides Service) - The United Nations High Commission for Refugees cares for 17 million people in various countries and situations: 9.7 million are refugees, 1 million have been repatriated, others are asylum seekers and 5.3 million are persons in precarious situations. The organisation has appealed for 1,100 million US dollars for its work in 2005.
During a meeting of donor countries UNHCR said it will need an estimated 981.6 million dollars for activities and 122.5 million for programmes.
UNHCR programmes include repatriation of Burundian and Sudanese refugees. According to UNHCR it needs about 59 million dollars along to guarantee assistance to Sudanese refugees from Darfur now in camps in neighbouring Chad. (AP) (13/11/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:15 Parole:156)