WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.info.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320
2000-51
Contact: Gabrielle Bushman
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator J. Brady Anderson announced this afternoon that the Agency's Food for Peace office would contribute $7 million worth of food aid for victims of flooding in Mozambique.
The Food for Peace office has begun initial procurement of 15,000 Metric Tons (MT) of U.S. corn, 1,500 MT of peas, beans, lentils, and 600 MT of vegetable oil for shipment to Mozambique.
With the food aid, this brings the total USAID assistance in response the flooding in Mozambique to approximately $8.7 million. In addition, USAID is prepared to spend an additional $3 million for non-food aid such as the purchase of helicopters to aid in search and rescue, shelter, and water purification chemicals.
USAID efforts previously announced include the following:
A $132,000 grant to Save the Children for emergency cholera prevention activities.
Approximately $85,000 worth of supplies, including 6000 wool blankets, 6000 5-gallon water containers, and 200 rolls of plastic sheeting, which will provide shelter for 2000 families.
$475,000 for delivery of non-food items to people in flooded areas cut off from other outside assistance; purchase of sandbags, shovels, wheelbarrows and cooking sets for distribution to approximately 100,000 people; and transportation to conduct disaster assessments and to support an air bridge for delivery of relief supplies.
The USAID hotline - 800-USAID-RELIEF, provides callers with a list of non-governmental organizations who are assisting the people of Mozambique. The hotline will be operational weekdays from 9-5 Eastern Standard Time. The list of organizations is also available at www.info.usaid.gov
The U.S., through USAID, has also provided $25,000 each to South Africa and Botswana in response to flooding there. Additionally, the Department of Defense has sent a plane of relief supplies to South Africa.
USAID is the U.S. government agency responsible for worldwide distribution of humanitarian and development assistance.