USAID Provides Assistance to Help Fight Wildfires in Bulgaria
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 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), is providing $50,000 for the purchase of fire fighting equipment to assist the Government of Bulgaria in combating recent wildfires.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Alexander Karagiannis declared a disaster in Bulgaria on August 1 due to the impact of wildfires in the country. Extremely high temperatures, heavy winds and ongoing dry conditions contributed to the fires and have caused the blazes to spread. Since July 20, as many as 2,000 wildfires have been reported across the country, and more than 568,000 acres of woodlands, parks and farmlands have been destroyed. According to the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, the fires have killed one person and injured nine. Smoke inhalation has also led large numbers of Bulgarians to seek medical assistance.
As earlier reported, USAID is also providing $50,000 each to the governments of Albania and Macedonia to help with the effects of wildfires in the respective countries.
USAID is closely monitoring the overall wildfire situation in southern and eastern Europe and will provide additional assistance if needed.
For more information about USAID's 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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