The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American non-governmental organization Resource & Policy Exchange (RPX), delivered seven 40-foot containers of food donated by the American people to the Kyrgyz Republic as part of the USAID Food for Peace Program. The local public foundation "Ergene" will coordinate and administer the distribution of food in Kyrgyzstan.

A ceremony to receive the food was held at the Bishkek City Children TB Hospital #2, 71 Molodya Gvardiya Street, May 17, 11:00 a.m. Deputy of the Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Daniyar Terbishaliev, USAID Representative to the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Cary Gordon, Deputy Minister of Health Mr. Marat Kaliev, State Secretary/Deputy Minister of Social Development Mr. Baktybek Jekshenov, and others will participate in the event.

The program seeks to enrich the diets of women and children in long-term treatment and housing, including residents of tuberculosis, psycho-neurological, and other social support institutions. Beneficiaries in 96 institutions from all regions of Kyrgyzstan will receive the food. The donated food is called Harvest Lentil Pro and is manufactured by the U.S. company Breedlove Dehydrated Foods. It consists of dried carrots, potatoes, onions and lentils and is fortified with vitamins and minerals.

Since 2003, USAID’s Food for Peace Program has delivered more than 12 million servings of food to over 50,000 children and adults with supplement feeding. In April 2008, this program delivered an additional 1 million servings to earthquake-affected families in southern Kyrgyzstan.

This program is one of many assistance programs supported by the American people through USAID. For more information about USAID programs, please visit our web site at: http://kyrgyzstan.usaid.gov/ .