United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Cyprus

On 20 August 1974, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim, announced the appointment of the UN High Commissioner at the time, Sadruddin Aga Khan, as coordinator of the humanitarian assistance for Cyprus. Within a couple of days following the appointment, the High Commissioner and two UNHCR staff members arrived on the island to make a first-hand assessment of the most urgent relief requirements. Early Years On 20 August 1974, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Kurt Waldheim, announced the appointment of the UN High Commissioner at the time, Sadruddin Aga Khan, as coordinator of the humanitarian assistance for Cyprus. Within a couple of days following the appointment, the High Commissioner and two UNHCR staff members arrived on the island to make a first-hand assessment of the most urgent relief requirements. An initial appeal was made by the High Commissioner in September for $22 million to cover emergency accommodation needs, food and for domestic and community equipment. By December 1974 the $22 million target was exceeded with the total value of contributions reaching $23.4million. Only in the first three years of its emergency operation in Cyprus, UNHCR disbursed over $83 million in humanitarian aid for the displaced populations in both communities. Funds for the assistance programmes were mainly provided by the US government and the European Economic Community also offered food in kind. What the international community expected...