The United States Provides Emergency Assistance to Vulnerable Malagasy Population

Due to the current political crisis, significant rainfall shortage across the country and significant food insecurity amongst vulnerable Malagasy populations, U.S. Ambassador Niels Marquardt requested official emergency response assistance on March 25, 2009.The United States Government immediately provided $50,000 in emergency assistance. The assistance money will be awarded to a joint group of United Nations' Agencies and non-governmental organizations to assess food insecurity in urban and rural priority districts and determine the size, scope, and sector of any additional emerging humanitarian assistance requirements. Based on that assessment the United States will then have the authority to provide further assistance as the situation evolves. Potential activities include food and/or seed distribution and Food for Work programming. To date, the U.S. government has contributed to the World Food Program’s distribution of food aid totaling approximately 1300 metric tons of rice and 36 metric tons of seeds (maize, sorghum and peanuts).