USAID Provides Assistance to Lebanon After Forest Fires
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2007
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided $100,000 to assist populations disrupted by recent forest fires.
From October 1st to 4th, approximately 240 separate forest fires caused extensive damage in multiple regions of northern and central Lebanon, including areas of the Chouf Mountains. According to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, the fires killed 1 person, injured 15 others and burned more than 5,000 acres of forest while destroying homes and personal property. The blazes also consumed thousands of acres of agricultural land. On October 9, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman declared a disaster due to the effects of the fires.
In fiscal year 2007, USAID emergency humanitarian assistance programs responded to more than 70 disasters in 56 countries, providing over $368 million to help those in need. In addition to responding to disasters, USAID works to build local capacity and expertise that prepares for disasters, mitigates the impact of disasters, responds to disasters and rebuilds after disasters.
For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/
