Public Affairs Section

U.S. Embassy, Gaborone, Botswana

July 26, 2016

The U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday pledged $127 million as part of an integrated response to El Niño drought relief. With this announcement, the United States has provided nearly $300 million in humanitarian assistance to the region and has also invested over $200 million in longer-term development interventions. These efforts will mitigate the drought’s impact and build resilience in Southern Africa through agricultural production, environment, health, livestock, trade, and water and sanitation programs.

The U.S. Government is committed to its partnership with SADC and supports recognition of the current drought as a humanitarian crisis with significant negative consequences for food security, water access, health, and economic productivity outcomes.

In addition to food assistance, the biggest priority will be livelihoods support, including seed distributions and livestock recovery to accelerate economic recovery. The United States applauds President Seretse Ian Khama’s appeal on behalf of SADC nations for greater international support in the current drought crisis.

DETAILS for USAID Drought Relief Press Call in :

Speaker: USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance David Harden

Date: July 27, 2016
Time: 15:00 CAT

Language: English. French and Portuguese interpretation will be offered.

Ground rules: On the record

Dial-in Info: To be provided once you RSVP

RSVP: RSVP to afmediahub@state.gov. Please indicate if you will dial in (specify

English/French/Portuguese line), or request that we dial out to you (provide the phone number and language to be used).

Twitter: We will use the hashtags #elnino for the call. Follow us on @AfricaMediaHub, @USAID_DCHA and @USAID_SAfrica.

LOGISTICS:

• Callers should dial-in to the conference call 10-15 minutes early.

• When an individual journalist dials-in, the operator will collect the caller’s name, press affiliation, and location. When an embassy dials in, the operator will ask the embassy’s name and location.

• The moderator will facilitate the Q and A among the connected callers. Journalists on the conference call will be instructed to press the “*” and “1” buttons on their phones in order to enter the question queue. NOTE: You can press “*1” at any time during the call to join the question queue, even before the moderator begins the Q and A portion. We ask that journalists limit themselves to one question and indicate to which speaker the question is directed. Journalists can also submit questions in English to afmediahub@state.gov prior to or during the call.

Additional Resources:

• http://www.sadc.int/news-events/news/sadc-launch-regional-appeal-millions-hit-el-nino-induced-drought/

• http://www.unocha.org/el-nino

• https://www.wfp.org/stories/southern-africa-food-security-crisis-0

• www.usaid.gov/elnino

For further details please contact Public Affairs Senior Adviser, Peter Kovach, KovachP@state.gov (395-3982 ext. 2468) or Ephraim Keoreng, Information Specialist KeorengET@state.gov (395-3982 ext. 2419)