The National Election Committee budget deficit has decreased substantially thanks to gifts from international donors. But a funding gap of almost $1.5 million still exists, officials said Thursday.
A total of $4.1 million in international donations has been received by the NEC since it appealed to the international community June 26 for additional funding, NEC Information Officer Leng Sochea said Thursday.
Three weeks ago, the shortfall was $5.6 million, he added.
The $4.1 million breaks down into $1.5 million from the UN Development Program, $1.5 million from the Danish government, $1 million from an unspecified NGO, $50,000 from South Korea and $50,000 from China, Leng Sochea said.
The NEC had warned that the shortfall would hamper its ability to hold a free and fair election. It needs the $5.6 million to cover staffing costs that will be incurred if 70,000 temporary workers are added to the NEC payroll over election weekend, as planned.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan gave his weight to the appeal for funding.
The UNDP feared that $3 million in additional donations was the most that could be hoped for.
“But we are still missing $1,469,319,” said Leng Sochea, reading from a notebook.
The NEC election budget is likely to total nearly $27 million, he said. Most of that is being met by the international community.
