2001 Press Releases

USAID Administrator visits Turkmenistan

Nov. 11, 2001

Andrew S. Natsios, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), arrived yesterday in Ashgabat. He will spend the week visiting several Central Asian countries to review the U.S. humanitarian operation to help the people of Afghanistan.

"Our focus is getting food and other aid into northern Afghanistan where the greatest number of people are in critical need." said Natsios. "With winter rapidly approaching, it's vitally important that we use every available means, and every possible route to get aid in immediately."

Natsios will meet with government officials and leaders of the United Nations and non-governmental organizations while in the region to ensure that all avenues of aid delivery are being explored.

Beginning in October 2001, USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has airlifted plastic sheeting, wool blankets, high-energy biscuits and sugar to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. These supplies will be used to assist vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

In addition, November 5-9, the U.S. Department of Defense flew seven airlift missions of U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo planes filled with USAID non-food aid items including wool blankets, plastic sheeting and BP-5 high energy biscuits.

Afghanistan was the U.S. government's number one recipient of humanitarian assistance prior to September 11, and remains so today. The United States has supplied more than 80 percent of all food aid for vulnerable Afghans through the World Food Program and will continue to be the leading food donor to the Afghan people.

To date, in FY02, the United States government has provided nearly $120 million in aid to Afghanistan.

The United States Agency for International Development is the U.S. government agency that has provided development and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 40 years.