RCUSA Encouraged by Obama Budget, Concerned About Overseas Assistance

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), the nation's leading coalition of non-profit organizations working to protect the rights of refugees, commended the Obama Administration's proposed increase in funding for the admission of refugees and for services to refugees resettled in the United States, while it simultaneously expressed disappointment in the Administration's proposed cuts in spending for overseas refugee assistance. RCUSA pledged to work with Congress and the Administration in the coming months to ensure that adequate funds are appropriated to address the humanitarian and protection needs of the world's refugees.

"RCUSA is pleased to see additional funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement," said Robert Carey, Chair of Refugee Council USA. "The current economic crisis, which affects millions of Americans, has had an especially damaging impact on vulnerable refugees offered safety by the United States Government. This additional funding will help provide valuable assistance to refugees as they begin a new life in the United States after fleeing persecution and work to become productive members of our communities. While the request is below the level we believe is needed to properly support refugees in the U.S., this proposed increase for a program that has suffered from chronic underfunding is certainly a step in the right direction. Refugee Council USA is urging the Administration to ensure that the funding made available to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is sufficient to meet the needs of resettled refugees," stated Carey.

The proposed budget provides a higher level of funding for the Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account than was requested in fiscal year 2010, yet it is still lower than the total appropriated by Congress in fiscal year 2010 and does not address significant shortfalls in overseas assistance. "RCUSA welcomes the additional funding for refugees in the U.S.  We recognize the pressures on the U.S. and we appreciate the commitment the Obama Administration has shown to refugees and refugee protection.  We are also greatly concerned that should the U.S. and other leading donors reduce their overseas assistance, it will leave many displaced persons without basic assistance and put increasing pressure on the many poor countries hosting refugees. The result will be even greater protection risks for vulnerable displaced persons, the majority of whom are women and children," stated Carey.

RCUSA holds that the United States should continue its leadership role in offering protection, assistance, and resettlement to refugees who have been persecuted and forcibly displaced from their homes and families.  The coalition strongly urges the Administration to ensure robust funding for Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance (ERMA), International Disaster Aid (IDA), and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) accounts.

SOURCE Refugee Council USA

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