New York, Nov. 29, 1996

In concordance with Italy's initiative to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Great Lakes Region, the Italian Cooperation has decided on two new emergency programs, totaling nearly 3 billion liras (approximately 2 million US dollars), to assist the refugees in the Kivu Region and in Rwanda.

Two billion liras (approximately 1,5 million US dollars) will be given for emergency food and sanitary assistance, and one billion liras (approximately 750,000 US dollars) will be given to UNICEF for emergency sanitary assistance to mothers and infants.

A recent mission in the region, in which Italy's Under-Secretary of State, Senator Rino Serri, played an important role, helped formulate these ideas. The mission called for intervention on the part of the international Community to alleviate the suffering of the refugees and help their repatriation into their homeland.