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USAID Provides Flood Assistance to Honduras

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2007
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On behalf of the American people, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided $50,000 for the purchase of emergency relief supplies including blankets, hygiene kits, and kitchen items for flood-affected populations in Honduras.

Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in five municipalities in southern Honduras on October 13 and 14. The floods killed five people and destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 homes, according to preliminary assessments by the Government of Honduras (GOH). The floods also affected 46 communities, resulting in the evacuation of more than 8,000 people. The GOH's Commission for Emergencies, the ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Public Works, and local police and fire officials are assisting with the evacuations, providing assistance to nearly 5,000 people in temporary shelters, and monitoring public health conditions. Additional rain is forecast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

On October 17, U.S. Ambassador Charles A. Ford declared a disaster due to the effects of the floods. USAID has also deployed a disaster specialist, who is working closely with the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa and USAID/Honduras to determine if additional assistance is needed.

In fiscal year 2007, USAID emergency humanitarian assistance programs responded to more than 70 disasters in 56 countries, providing over $368 million to help those in need. In addition to responding to disasters, USAID works to build local capacity and expertise that prepares for disasters, mitigates the impact of disasters, responds to disasters and rebuilds after disasters. Since 1998, USAID has funded more than $57 million in preparedness and mitigation programs in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

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