Fact Sheet: America's Children's Fund for Afghan Children

(White House announces first shipment of goods donated by U.S.
children) (710)


The White House announced December 8 the first shipment of relief
supplies to aid Afghan children under the America's Fund for Afghan
Children program. President Bush announced creation of the fund
October 11, and asked American children to send in $1 donations to
support it. The White House said that donations to date total more
than $1.5 million.


Following is the text of a White House fact sheet on the program:



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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

December 8



America's Fund for Afghan Children Shipment Departs



The Shipment



On October 11 the President announced the creation of the "America's
Fund for Afghan Children." The President asked school children across
America to send $1 dollar to help provide important relief to the
children of Afghanistan.


The President today is visiting New Windsor, Maryland, to help send
off the first shipment of humanitarian aid purchased from funds
donated by America's children. To date, American's children have
donated more than $1.5 million to help the children of Afghanistan.


The shipment will leave this weekend and will contain vital supplies
and some fun surprises for the children of Afghanistan, including:


-- 1,500 tents to provide shelter for Afghan children and families.
The Red Cross reports that these tents will provide shelter for
approximately 10,000 children.


-- 1,658 winter jackets to help children through the winter.



-- 10,000 gift parcels, including winter hats, wool socks, soap,
school supplies, crayons, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, candy, and toys
to bring a little joy to children who have endured terrible hardship.


-- Each gift parcel is marked "A Gift to Afghan Children from American
Children."


The Flight



This shipment of goods will be sent to the northern Afghanistan
provinces of Faryab and Balkh.


Federal Express has donated the flight to take this first shipment to
the region. On Sunday morning the plane will depart Dulles Airport for
the flight to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. In Germany the shipment
will be placed on Department of Defense flights that will then fly the
shipment in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. From Turkmenistan, the shipment
will be placed on trucks and driven into northern Afghanistan.


Background on America's Fund for Afghan Children



After years of war, drought and rule by the repressive Taliban regime,
Afghanistan faces a major humanitarian crisis. In particular, the most
vulnerable Afghans ? the more than 10 million children ? are
suffering.


Americans are concerned about the welfare of Afghan children and wish
to reinforce the fact that America's actions are focused on destroying
a terror network and are not directed against the innocent people and
children of Afghanistan.


In response to the outpouring of humanitarian concern by Americans,
the President announced the creation of "America's Fund for Afghan
Children," which will encourage children and their families to
contribute to relief efforts for Afghan children. In particular, it is
hoped that the children of America will be inspired to make
contributions of one dollar ? or whatever they can give -- which can
be sent individually or collectively to the Fund.


More than 10 million children in Afghanistan have suffered under years
of civil war and drought and now suffer under the repressive Taliban
regime:


?Afghanistan ranks number one worldwide in maternal mortality. ?One
in four Afghan children will not make it to their fifth birthday. ?
One in three Afghan children is an orphan. ?Almost 1/2 of Afghan
children suffer chronic malnutrition. ?Millions face the threat of
starvation.


Building on a History of Success



The President's initiative to assist Afghan children is modeled on the
original 1938 March of Dimes campaign from the Roosevelt
Administration. In that successful campaign, President Franklin
Roosevelt appealed to American children to each donate a dime to help
eradicate polio. The effort succeeded not only in raising funds for
the effort that defeated polio, but also in generating significant
interest among American youth at helping others in need. The original
campaign was a grassroots effort, supported by the leadership of the
President of the United States.


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