Press Releases

February 24, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Yesterday the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) donated a Federal Medical Station, valued at approximately $577,000, to St. Damien Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The pediatric hospital survived the 7.0 magnitude January 12 earthquake relatively unscathed, but was quickly overwhelmed by patients of all ages and unprepared for the numbers of adults requiring urgent care.

February 19, 2010

LA GRANJA, SPAIN - USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah met with European Union (EU) Development Ministers during the EU Development Ministers Informal Meeting in La Granja, Spain from February 17-18. Topics discussed included the Transatlantic Development Dialogue and Haiti.

February 2, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE - An orphanage here in Haiti, which we will not name in order to protect the children living there, was already providing a home to more than 150 orphans prior to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. Now the number of children has expanded to include those who have recently been orphaned or temporarily separated from their families due to the earthquake, and that number far exceeds the facility's capacity to care for them. Hearing of the need, the U.S.

February 1, 2010

Washington, D.C. – As part of the ongoing medical response to the Haiti earthquake, USAID, the agency coordinating the US Government response, announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has activated additional components of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to help U.S. hospitals provide care to critically ill survivors.

January 28, 2010
FCC-Led Team Reports from Port-au-Prince on State of Communications

Washington, D.C. - A U.S. team is on-the-ground in Haiti evaluating the status of the country's communications infrastructure and services following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. The team was deployed in response to a request from Director General Montàigne Marcelin of Conseil National des Télécommunications (Conatel), the communications agency in Haiti, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

January 26, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE - Haitian police and civilian volunteers, assisted by the U.S. military distributed more than 43,800 hand-held radios to survivors of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake. In a collaborative effort, the team handed out self-powered radios at major distribution centers in Cité Soleil, the Presidential Palace, the Petionville Club and other affected areas throughout the city.

The radios allow disaster survivors to receive news and important information concerning international relief efforts and public safety messages daily.

January 26, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE - In response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti Jan.12, the U.S. is expediting the delivery of medical supplies, providing critical health services, and conducting assessments to help determine health priorities. The U. S. government also is helping to plan for Haiti’s long-term public health needs and harmonizing health inputs with other donors and groups led by the government of Haiti and coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization.

January 24, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah met with Haitian President René Préval yesterday. Administrator Shah visited Haiti to meet with local officials and to monitor ongoing earthquake recovery. Administrator Shah and President Préval discussed recovery efforts and Haiti’s urgent needs. Administrator Shah traveled together with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

January 18, 2010

Today Americans across the country are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in a day of service in their communities. The response we are seeing to the devastating earthquake that just occurred 600 miles south of Florida is a great example of Dr. King's commitment to common humanity. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) salutes the extraordinary generosity and compassion of the American people who are coming together to help the Haitian people.

January 16, 2010

Washington, DC- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Global Health is sending additional specialists to Haiti to help assist with the rising medical needs. Reports indicate that thousands of individuals in makeshift medical facilities are in dire need of medical attention following Tuesday’s earthquake.

January 13, 2010

Washington, DC- In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, USAID is providing 14,550 tons of food aid which will help feed 1.2 million people for two weeks and is valued at approximately $18 million, to assist those affected by the disaster.

In order to expedite delivery, the food aid will come from the Title II prepositioned stocks in Jascinto, Texas. It will include 7,000 tons of rice, 4,550 tons of corn soy blend (CSB), and 3,000 tons of vegetable oil. The food will be distributed by the United Nations World Food Program and Private Voluntary Organizations.

January 12, 2010

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announce today the swearing in of Jeff Borns as mission director to South Africa. Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator Earl Gast presided over the event and administered the oath to Borns.

January 12, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and has activated its partners, the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team and the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team. The USAR teams will be composed of up to 72 personnel, 6 search and rescue canines and up to 48 tons of rescue equipment.

The USAR team will be accompanied by USAID disaster experts who will assist with assessments of the situation.

January 7, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - The following is the text of the remarks from Dr. Rajiv Shah upon his swearing-in today as USAID Administrator.

DR. RAJIV SHAH REMARKS:

Thank you very much.

When I began preparing my remarks for today, I asked my wife, Shivam, for advice.

She told me -- when you get on stage and everyone is cheering for Secretary Clinton, just pretend they're cheering for you.

Shivam, thank you for all of your good advice, but of course for so much more.

January 6, 2010

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today the swearing in of Dr. Carleene Dei as its new mission director for Haiti. As director, Dei will oversee programs to promote stability and help Haitians strengthen their democratic institutions, promote economic growth and improve education and health services.

December 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Government released today a report on assistance to highly vulnerable children in developing countries, U.S. Government and Partners: Working Together on a Comprehensive, Coordinated and Effective Response to Highly Vulnerable Children.

Seven federal departments and agencies - Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, State, Peace Corps, and USAID - provided approximately $5 billion to assist highly vulnerable children and families in FY 2008.

December 18, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since 1984, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), conceived and funded largely by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has collected and disseminated high quality data that provide critical insight for decision makers to plan, monitor, and evaluate population, health, and nutrition programs. The DHS project staff has helped conduct some 260 surveys in over 90 developing countries.

December 8, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) have partnered through the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) initiative to bring more than 12,000 people in Ramotshinyadi Village of South Africa access to clean drinking water.

December 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) along with alliance partners AED and Darden Restaurants, which owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden, today announced the Global FISH Alliance, a program that promotes sustainable fisheries and responsible aquaculture practices. The partnership held a reception at the AED Global Theater where a panel representing this unique public private partnership discussed the importance of a comprehensive approach to sustainable fishing practices.

December 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Under the framework of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. Forest Service, and the Russian Federal Forest Agency signed a Protocol of Intent to strengthen collaboration in the sustainable management of forests through 2013.

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