*EPF303 08/11/2004
Transcript: United States Sends Food Assistance to Darfur
(Shipment of 32,000 tons valued at $30 million) (460)

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is contributing almost 32,000 metric tons of food to the emergency assistance operation under way in Darfur, Sudan.

The new contribution was announced August 6 and brings the USAID support for the international effort in Darfur to almost 120,000 tons of food. This is in addition to more than 11,000 tons of food assistance directed to Darfur refugees who have crossed the border into Chad.

USAID assistance will be channeled through the World Food Program (WFP) to more than 2 million people who are expected to need food assistance by October.

In total, the United States has contributed almost $180 million in assistance for food and other survival supplies to improve conditions in Darfur and Chad.

Following is the text of the USAID press release:

(begin transcript)

USAID Delivers Emergency Food Aid to the People of Darfur
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE

August 6, 2004

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Andrew S. Natsios announced that the agency's Office of Food for Peace approved a contribution of 31,700 metric tons of emergency food assistance for operations in Darfur, Sudan. The food aid, to be donated to the United Nations (UN) World Food Program, is valued at more than $30 million.

With this contribution, USAID Food for Peace has provided a total of 118,400 metric tons of food at a cost of more than $110 million to date for Darfur. In addition, this includes 11,400 metric tons for Darfur refugees in Chad, valued at approximately $9 million.

"USAID humanitarian experts are on the ground, working every day to help move aid into Sudan and assist the people of Darfur," Administrator Natsios said. "In this complex humanitarian crisis, it is critical to alleviate food shortages and assure that the men, women and children of Darfur are getting the food, medical assistance and water sanitation programs they need to survive."

The UN's World Food Program expects that the number of people in need of food assistance will rise to more than 2 million by the beginning of October. USAID's donation will allow mass shipments of staples such as corn soya blend, sorghum, split peas, lentils and vegetable oil.

The U.S. is the world's largest donor to the UN World Food Program.

Since it was established 50 years ago, USAID's Food for Peace foreign aid program - commonly referred to as P.L. 480 - has shipped more than 106 million metric tons of wheat, corn, oil and other food overseas and saved hundreds of millions of lives.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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