WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide an initial $100,000 in emergency earthquake assistance to the people of Sumatra in Indonesia.
U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume extended his deepest sympathy to the thousands of people who are suffering from the devastation and emphasized that the rapid response of the provincial and local governments of western Sumatra greatly mitigated the suffering of the earthquake victims. "We look forward to working with the Indonesian authorities at all levels to help people overcome this disaster," he said.
In addition to this new earthquake assistance funding, two NGOs - International Medical Corps and Ambulan 118 - deployed a 14-member medical team to the province of Bengkulu using existing USAID disaster preparedness funding. A special U.S. Government team from the American Embassy in the capital of Jakarta and the consulate in Medan arrived in western Sumatra September 13.
The U.S. Government and the Government of Indonesia recently signed several agreements totaling $963 million providing assistance during the next five years for programs which support Indonesia's democratic transition, economic growth, education reform and the delivery of basic human services.
For more information about USAID emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/
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