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USIA - Text: U.S. to Give $1 Million to ICRC for Albania, 97-03-24
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>
TEXT: U.S. TO GIVE $1 MILLION TO ICRC FOR ALBANIA
(Funds for the immediate needs of the most vulnerable) (320)
Washington -- The United States will contribute $1 million to the
International Committee of the Red Cross to assist in meeting the immediate
needs of the most vulnerable sector of the Albanian population, now at risk
due to the outbreak of violence in their country several weeks ago,
Following is the text of a March 24 statement by John Dinger, acting
spokesman of the State Department:
(Begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 24, 1997
STATEMENT BY JOHN DINGER, ACTING SPOKESMAN
U.S. CONTRIBUTES FUNDING FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN ALBANIA
The United States will contribute $1 million to the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Albania.
ICRC's appeal for almost $10 million was issued on March 17 to cover the
programs and activities of the ICRC and the Albanian Red Cross with support
from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Since the outbreak of violence in Albania several weeks ago, the ICRC and
the Federation have been working together to ensure that needed food and
medicines reach Albania's most vulnerable as quickly as possible.
The funding received in response to this appeal will provide food and
medical supplies to hospitals, orphans, and the elderly; food parcels and
hygiene kits to the most vulnerable ten percent of the general population;
water and sanitation services; and assistance to the Albanian Red Cross to
strengthen its capacity. With tens of thousands of firearms being used
without restraint, another top priority of the ICRC is to raise protection
issues with whomever is in charge in each area and to disseminate knowledge
about humanitarian principles.
This contribution of $1 million is to meet immediate needs. The United
States will follow the situation closely and will evaluate whether further
funding is required.
(End text)
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov
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