Silver Spring, Maryland - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing food security for thousands in Jamaica, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, and Mongolia.

In February of 2005, ADRA shipped a 40-foot container of seeds to Jamaica, launching the start of a project entitled, "Resuscitating Jamaica's Farming Stock after Hurricane Ivan." The project, serving 20,000 people and valued at more than $9.000, is designed to help Jamaican farmers recover from the loss of crops after the onslaught of Hurricane Ivan last fall. "It is with a deep sense of gratitude that the beneficiaries and the government of Jamaica express their heartfelt appreciation to ADRA International for its generous donation of seeds," stated Claude Brown, director of ADRA Jamaica. "[That donation] has gone a long way in helping to restore the livelihood of [Jamaican] farmers."

ADRA also recently shipped a 20-foot container of seeds to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The seeds will arrive in mid-November, benefiting more than 6,000 people, and is valued at more than $456,000.

In addition, ADRA is preparing to send $175,000 in food aid to Niger to combat hunger and starvation in famine-stricken regions. A 40-foot container of Vitameals will be shipped to that country, which will feed more than 3,000 people.

In Mongolia, an ADRA food security project is helping 2,000 families grow their own vegetables through a Bio-Intensive gardening project. Another 1,200 will receive seeds that will be used to build a food supply resource in case of sudden frost or drought, averting a potential disaster situation. Any residual balance of seeds will be given to orphanages, hospitals, prisons, and schools to provide food for inmates and children. ADRA is currently preparing to ship a 40-foot container of seeds to Mongolia. The seeds are scheduled to be planted in the beginning of the 2006-planting season in March and April. The project is valued at close to $600,000 and it will benefit more than 80,000 families.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, or ethnicity.

Media Contact:

Nadia McGill
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301.680.5145
E-mail: Media.Inquries@adra.org