USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore Visits Georgia
On August 21, USAID Administrator and Director of Foreign Assistance Henrietta Fore and US European Command Commander and NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe General Bantz Craddock arrived in Georgia to monitor the USG humanitarian relief effort for populations affected by the recent conflict. As part of her visit, Administrator Fore visited a building formerly used by the Forestry Service in Tbilisi, which now houses 237 internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Administrator spoke with the Tutarashvili family from the South Ossetian village of Avnevi. Speaking outside the IDP center, Administrator Fore said, "The United States stands prepared to provide further assistance to the people of Georgia as needs are identified in the days and weeks to come." Administrator Fore traveled to Republican Hospital and met with wounded and displaced Georgians. The USAID-funded Emergency Medical Services Center at Republican Hospital has treated 2,000 injured military personnel and civilians since the beginning of the conflict on August 7. The Administrator also consulted with President Saakashvili, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Finance, Health and Economic Development. Administrator Fore met a US C-130 arriving early on August 22 and delivering additional hygiene kits and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs). Reaffirming the USG's commitment to providing emergency relief, Administrator Fore said, "We are also looking ahead to longer-term reconstruction and development programs that will help the people of Georgia recover, rebuild, and thrive in the aftermath of this conflict." As of August 23, EUCOM had flown a total of 42 missions to Georgia containing USG relief and medical supplies to benefit populations affected by the conflict. The flights carried critical relief supplies such as hygiene kits, humanitarian daily rations, and ready-to-eat-meals, as well as bedding, sleeping bags, and 104,000 doses of antibiotics requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health. Additional US airlifts, as requested by the Government of Georgia, are scheduled through late August.
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