UNHCR receives 1 million euros in donation from Dutch lottery

THE HAGUE, Feb 3 (UNHCR) - In an endorsement of its work for refugees worldwide, UNHCR has received 1 million euros in donation from the main charity lottery in the Netherlands.

Last week, the UN refugee agency was accepted as a beneficiary of the Dutch Postcode Lottery (NPL) during the latter's annual "Good Money Gala" held in the mediaeval castle of Haarzuilens in the Netherlands.

"This is an extremely important contribution to UNHCR, one that will enable us to offer refugees a better life," said UNHCR's Director of Communication and Information, Anne-Willem Bijleveld, as he received a symbolic cheque from NPL Director Boudewijn Poelmann.

"We are honoured to have the UN refugee agency among us," said Poelmann. "By welcoming you into our club of beneficiaries, we want to endorse UNHCR's work for refugees and to stress the growing urgency of refugee problems in the world."

NPL is the top private fundraiser for charity in the Netherlands. It devotes 60 percent of its net income to work in the areas of nature preservation and ecology, development co-operation, human rights and refugees.

The Lottery saw a 15-percent growth last year, allowing a total of 203 million euros to be donated to its 44 beneficiaries. Besides UNHCR, NPL also supports other organisations that help refugees, notably the Dutch Refugee Council, non-governmental organisation Stichting Vluchteling, and the UAF Foundation that assists refugee students in the Netherlands.