Photo Credit: Refugees International
07/03/2002

These refugees in Kuonkon camp in Guinea line up to receive supplies. The intricate system of people and organizations that provide life-sustaining support to refugees is almost as fragile as the refugees themselves. It is an ecosystem of governmental and non-governmental organizations that, when operating at peak efficiency, provides security; food, shelter and vital services to an estimated 15 million people.

Because the UN High Commission on refugees has run out of money, it has not been able to pay organizations to distribute food to refugees in this camp. If the organization stops distributing food, it would be a disaster for the refugees who barely survive from month to month. For this reason, it is essential that international governments continue to support and fund UN agencies when they request money for emergency situations like this one.