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U.S. Provides Additional Hurricane Assistance to Haiti

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2008
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are providing $7.1 million to Haiti - of which $2.1 million is in new funding and the remaining $5 million are funds shifted from existing, less critical programs - as part of its initial response to the effects of Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna. In addition, food from the $45 million emergency food program, announced before the storms hit, is being re-directed to also address the needs of the hurricane-affected Haitian population. These funds will continue to provide support for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies for displaced populations in Haiti and for the support of early recovery activities.

"We are deeply concerned for those affected by the devastating storms in Haiti and the region and are doing everything we can to help," said USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore.

On August 26, Hurricane Gustav passed over Haiti, producing heavy rains and winds. Beginning on September 1, the approach of Tropical Storm Hanna led to additional rainfall throughout the country. As of September 4, UN agencies cite unofficial estimates that more than 100 people have died as a result of the storms. Flooding and landslides have cut off land routes and hampered humanitarian access.

USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance staff in the capital of Port au Prince is working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN World Food Program (WFP), and international humanitarian organizations to identify safe transit routes for relief staff and commodities from Port au Prince to affected areas. On September 5, three U.S. Coast Guard helicopters airlifted USAID relief commodities from Port au Prince to Gonaives for distribution. A Coast Guard ship is scheduled to transport additional USAID hygiene kits, water containers, and rolls of plastic sheeting as well as WFP food commodities to Gonaives on September 5 and 6.

In addition to the initial $100,000 that USAID provided in emergency funding for Haiti, the Agency also provided $50,000 through USAID's Dominican Republic mission and $100,000 through USAID's Jamaica mission for the local procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies in those countries.

A USAID assessment team continues to monitor the situation in close consultation with the U.S. Embassy and will provide additional support as needed. These efforts represent a repositioning of program funding and activities to prepare for possible future storms.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, including assistance to Haiti, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

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