USAID Weekly
ISSUE VII • September 5
Top Story
USAID Provides Additional Wildfire Assistance to Greece
WASHINGTON – The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is announcing the contribution of $1.2 million in equipment and technical assistance to the Government of Greece (GOG) to help combat wildfires in the country. This announcement follows the provision of an initial $100,000 on August 28, which USAID directed to the Hellenic Red Cross for emergency fire fighting equipment and emergency relief commodities. This support is in response to the declaration on August 25 by the GOG that a national state of emergency existed in the country.
As many as 170 wildfires were burning throughout Greece in late August, including those close to Athens and across the Peloponnese region. Although nearly all of the blazes were under control by August 29, to date, more than 60 people have lost their lives, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The fires are also responsible for the destruction of a large number of homes, damage to communications, electric, and water infrastructure, and the burning of hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of forests and olive groves.
The $1.2 million contribution will support the purchase of personal protective equipment for firefighters, fund technical assistance teams from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Forest Service, and representatives from USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. These experts will work with officials in Greece to address fire management, emergency management systems, fire investigation, burned area emergency rehabilitation, and ecosystem and watershed restoration.
(More on USAID Assistance in South Eastern Europe)
Top Story
Maternal Health: Saving the Lives of Women and Children
Each year more than 500,000 women, 99 percent of them in developing countries, die from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications, and an additional 15 to 20 million women suffer debilitating consequences of pregnancy. USAID has sharpened its focus on a set of effective interventions targeting specific high-mortality complications of pregnancy and birth – hemorrhage, hypertension, infections, anemia, and prolonged labor. Annually, 4 million newborns die in the first four weeks of life, accounting for 40 percent of all deaths among children under the age of 5. USAID assists newborn care programs in 27 countries, covering the full spectrum of approaches, ranging from community-based activities to outreach and clinic care. Additionally, across all USAID-assisted countries, deliveries attended by skilled health workers have increased from an average of 37 percent in 1990 to 50 percent today.
(Source)
USAID World News
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LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
High Percentage Of Private-Sector Alliances The cultivation and production of cocaine (as well as opium and marijuana) has threatened the social and economic fabric of the Latin and Caribbean (LAC) region’s Andean countries for many years … |
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EUROPE & EURASIA
USAID Helps Serbian Community Achieve Economic Growth
Since July 2001, the people of Arilje have undertaken 37 projects together with USAID. The American people have contributed $1.6 million to supplement the $1.2 million invested by the municipality…
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ASIA NEAR EAST
Bridge to Reading: New Training Methods Boost Women's Literacy
Mastering the intricacies of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is challenging for any learner. Even for many Arabic speakers throughout the Arab world…
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AFRICA
Not Your Average Cup of "Joe"
a prestigious honor for the world's finest coffees - the Cup of Excellence - will be awarded in Rwanda. With support from USAID/Rwanda, the competition will improve the lives of farmers, spur economic growth and place Rwandan coffee on international map .…
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In The News
USAID Provides Hurricane Assistance to Belize
The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it will provide $50,000 to support the relief efforts of the Government of Belize (GOB) arising from Hurricane Dean…(more)
USAID Provides Hurricane Assistance to Dominica and St. Lucia
The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $25,000 to Dominica through its Office of Disaster Management to support the local purchase and transport of emergency shelter repair materials to those areas affected by the recent hurricane…(more)
Telling Our Story
Citizens Track Electoral Process
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Photo: Fernando Rollano
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In partnership with local civil society organizations, USAID promotes participation and information-sharing in democratic processes in Bolivia.
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