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Humanitarian supplies from the U.S. are delivered to Beirut July 29. (© AP/WWP)

U.S. Donations of Humanitarian Supplies Arrive in Lebanon

July 31, 2006

Media Notice
For Immediate Release

More than 100 pallets of U.S. donated humanitarian supplies arrived aboard the USS Swift at the Port of Beirut, July 29, 2006. United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Lebanon Mission Director Raouf Youssef received the shipment which included seven emergency medical kits, 1,000 tarps and 20,000 blankets to Lebanon. The humanitarian supplies have already been distributed to the affected population through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Medical Corps (IMC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Mercy Corps International.

Each kit contains medicines, intravenous fluids, and medical supplies for 10,000 people for approximately three months. The kits were specifically designed to meet emergency medical needs in crisis situations and are accompanied by standard manuals for clinical guidelines, diagnosis and treatment in multiple languages.

To date, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided approximately $8 million to support the UN Flash Appeal for Lebanon and $3.4 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Additional assistance will be provided to other relief agencies based on forthcoming humanitarian assessments. The USG has provided more than $11.8 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, as part of the $30 million authorized by U.S. Secretary of State Rice on July 24, 2006.

As an immediate response to the crisis, a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) arrived in the region on July 23, 2006 to conduct assessments and determine priorities for USG humanitarian assistance. A Washington D.C.-based Response Management Team is supporting the DART.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked in Lebanon since 1951, funding development projects to benefit Lebanese citizens. USAID’s program promotes economic opportunities, job creation, good governance and environmental policies and practices in rural Lebanon. USAID provides $40 million assistance a year and works in partnership with U.S. and Lebanese organizations throughout the country. USAID strengthens the relationship between the people of Lebanon and the people of the United States, and promotes a shared vision of democracy and socio-economic development.

For more information about USAID’s projects in Lebanon, visit USAID’s web site http://lebanon.usaid.gov. For more www.usaid.gov.