|
Even
with the tremendous boost in food support, conditions
in the areas hardest hit continued to worsen. In order
to enhance the USG response, a disaster assistance response
team (DART) from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
was deployed to the region to provide a more responsive
and 'on the ground' presence. Disaster response specialist,
Ron Libby, from the International Programs of the Forest
Service served on the team from June to August 2003
as the program officer. The team conducted field assessment
visits to the six most affected areas of the country
to determine the appropriate USG non-food response to
the humanitarian crisis. On the recommendations of the
DART and in collaboration with USG partners, USAID/OFDA
supported emergency recovery activities to improve water
and sanitation conditions, health and nutrition, and
to address seed shortfalls in the agricultural sector.
During this fiscal year alone, the USG has provided
over thirty million dollars in humanitarian assistance
in response to this emergency.
|
