The restoration of funding of United Nations population programmes by the Obama administration will help women, girls and their families around the world, dpa quoted the UN Population Fund as saying today. US President Barack Obama signed a 410-billion-dollar budget for the rest of the fiscal year on Wednesday that included restoring US contribution of 50 million dollars a year to the fund. The United States had withdrawn funding for the programme under former president George W Bush. Bush's Republican Party had charged UNFPA with supporting abortions, particularly in China, and cancelled the US contribution starting in 2002. UNFPA denied any involvement in abortions. "This is a great day for women, girls and their families around the world," said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. "We warmly applaud this action by President Obama, which underlines his support to the protection of the lives and human dignity of women and girls in the poorest countries."
