USAID Hurricane Assistance to Nicaragua Increases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2007
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided an additional $130,000 in commodities, including transport, for a total contribution to date of $1.17 million to Nicaragua in the aftermath of Hurricane Felix.
"We are committed to assisting the Government and people of Nicaragua as they continue to recover from Hurricane Felix," said Ky Luu, Director of USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. "USAID made comprehensive preparations across the region for the 2007 hurricane season, allowing us to prepare for relief efforts and to position disaster assessment teams before Hurricane Felix made landfall. Working alongside local officials, we responded immediately in the aftermath of the storm, performing assessments and distributing much needed commodities."
USAID airlifted five planeloads of emergency relief commodities to the city of Puerto Cabezas, to help meet priority needs identified by the Nicaraguan government. The USAID commodities included 820 rolls of plastic sheeting, 3,875 blankets, 1,000 five-gallon water jugs, 3,552 family hygiene kits, as well as other emergency relief supplies.
In response to the Government of Nicaragua's request for international assistance on September 4, USAID immediately provided $150,000 to support relief efforts in addition to the $25,000 for preparedness provided prior to Felix's landfall. These contributions were followed by additional disaster funding to Nicaragua to support immediate relief efforts in the affected areas and to the Pan American Health Organization for emergency medical activities in the country.
As a preparedness measure prior to the hurricane season, emergency relief supplies, such as hygiene kits and kitchen sets, were pre-positioned with the Nicaraguan Red Cross.
For more information about USAID emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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