USAID Provides Equipment and Training for Earthquake Relief Efforts in China

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are providing more than $815,000 in additional assistance, including specialized search, rescue, and recovery equipment, to the people of China in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck on May 12. As part of this effort, a nine-person USAID team of specialists will travel to China to train local rescue workers on the use of this equipment. This brings total USAID assistance to China to more than $1.3 million.

The equipment is expected to arrive in Chengdu, China on Wednesday and will include saws, hand tools, hydraulic gear, concrete cutters, generators, and personal safety equipment.

USAID will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with the Government of China in order to provide needed assistance to those affected by the earthquake.

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.

USAID Public Information Office: +1-202-712-4810

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Source: U.S. Agency for International Development

CONTACT: USAID Press Office, +1-202-712-4320

Web Site: http://www.usaid.gov/

2008-05-19 20:17:33 0365782 PRNEWSWIRE