Unicef ponders excess millions from relief campaign
The world's overwhelming generosity to the victims of the tsunami has given the UN Children's Fund, Unicef, an unexpected dilemma - how to spend the tens of millions of dollars more than it asked for in its international appeal.
The New York-based agency asked for US$145 million, and received US$300 million - an unexpected windfall in an age where global appeals rarely achieve half their goals.
Unicef was the beneficiary of Hong Kong's extended Operation Santa Claus appeal, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
Unicef Thailand communications officer Susan Cullan said the appeal had transformed the organisation's operations in affected countries. The annual budget of Unicef Thailand was about US$6 million, but it now had US$28 million.
US$125 million of the appeal went to Unicef Indonesia, which usually has an annual budget of US$25 million. No figure has yet been announced for Sri Lanka. Funds donated to the appeal must be spent on the tsunami, so Unicef would be expanding its work into new areas, said the organisation's Sri Lanka spokesman, Geoffrey Keele.
'We're looking at how to harness these resources and use them to the really long-term benefit of children of the country in a sustainable manner,' Mr Keele said. There was now an opportunity to improve Sri Lanka's foster care system, improve health and education services, and boost living conditions.
