President Bush has earmarked 25-million dollars to help international relief agencies meet the needs of Afghan refugees.
In a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mr. Bush says it in the United States' national interest to make the money available to provide humanitarian assistance to a new exodus of Afghan refugees.
The letter says the money will be used to provide contributions to international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. The funds will come from the U-S Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund.
Earlier this week, the U-N refugee agency said it is preparing for an estimated one-point-five million refugees to flee into neighboring countries if the United States carries out military strikes against Afghanistan.