ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY UN REFUGEE AGENCY

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED BY UN REFUGEE AGENCY
New York, Nov 14 2007 2:00PM
The United Nations refugee agency today launched its annual Christmas fund-raising appeal that aims to generate donations to help provide shelter, schooling and support for refugee children worldwide.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (<"http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/473b1e234.html">UNHCR) said it hopes this year's Star Appeal can surpass the record total of $560,000 that was raised last year. Members of the public can donate to the appeal through a <"http://www.starappeal.unhcr.org/">special link on the agency's website.

Nick Van Praag, the head of UNHCR's Department of External Relations, said "our goal is to strike when the iron is hot – and there is no better time to fund-raise than during the holiday season."

UNHCR is stressing that even small donations can go a long way to bringing relief to children who have been forced to leave their homelands. A donation of $40 buys a survival kit for children who are badly malnourished, while $80 purchases a durable lightweight tent for a family of eight and $210 pays the wages of a teacher for three months.

Last year's Star Appeal helped young residents of the Nakivale settlement in Uganda, which is home to refugees from several African countries.
2007-11-14 00:00:00.000

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