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U.S. President George Bush has submitted a request to the U.S. Congress for $50 million in international disaster and famine assistance funds to mitigate damage in Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti and other nations affected by recent hurricanes. The funds for the Caribbean are part of a $7.1 billion supplemental budget request to assist U.S. and international regions that have been heavily damaged this hurricane season.
To date, the U.S., through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided $3.8 million worth of assistance Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas to alleviate the human suffering caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne and Hurricanes Ivan and Frances.
In Haiti, USAID has provided $2 million for the humanitarian response. On September 23, USAID airlifted 300 rolls of plastic sheeting for shelter, more than 5,000 ten-liter water jugs, and 3,660 hygiene kits to Port-au-Prince. USAID has dispatched an expert disaster team from OFDA to help coordinate the U.S. relief efforts with local disaster officials and secured an aircraft through Air Serv International to provide aerial assessments and transport of personnel and relief supplies.
Grenada, to date, has received more than $900,000 from USAID for the humanitarian response. As of September 24, USAID has funded four flights of emergency relief supplies to Grenada, carrying plastic sheeting for shelter, hygiene kits and emergency water supplies. USAID has provided $100,000 to the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, to support the local purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, in-country air transport and aerial assessments of affected areas in Grenada. USAID has provided $50,000 to fund assessments of Grenada’s electrical system and has secured an aircraft through Air Serv International to assist in the humanitarian response.
Jamaica has also been a recipient of more than $694,000 from USAID. On September 12, U.S. Ambassador Sue M. Cobb issued a disaster declaration allowing for the automatic release of $50,000 used for the immediate funding of shelter operation costs and initial relief activities. USAID has funded two flights of emergency relief supplies, including special boats for search and rescue efforts, life vests, hygiene kits, jerry cans and plastic sheeting for shelter. Through partners, USAID has provided nearly $400,000 for the purchase and transportation of medical supplies, hygiene kits and plastic sheeting for shelter. The USAID Mission in Jamaica has purchased $25,000 in water tanks.
USAID has provided more than $284,000 for the humanitarian response in the Bahamas. On September 5, U.S. Ambassador John D. Rood issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of Hurricane Frances. USAID has provided $100,000 to support the local purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, in-country air transport and aerial assessments of affected areas. USAID has funded three airlifts of emergency relief supplies from Miami to the Bahamas, carrying blankets, hygiene kits, jerry cans, plastic sheeting for shelter and a water purification unit and has secured an aircraft through Air Serv International to assist in the humanitarian response.
In the Dominican Republic USAID has provided $50,000 for humanitarian assistance, including purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including hygiene kits, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, blankets, bedding, water containers and plastic sheeting for shelter.
The USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance now celebrating its 40th year, the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is responsible for providing humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disaster. USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios serves as the President's Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance. In 2004, with a budget of more than $300 million, OFDA Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) have responded to 69 disaster declarations in 58 countries.
USAID OFDA provides humanitarian assistance in response to a declaration of a foreign disaster made by the U.S. Ambassador or the U.S. Department of State. Once a declaration is made, USAID can immediately provide up to $50,000 to the U.S. Embassy or USAID Mission to purchase relief supplies locally, or give a contribution to a relief organization in the affected country. USAID also deploys experts to the field, and in some cases, dispatches a DART.
The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance is housed in USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.
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