MONROVIA – The United States government is dishing out an initial aid of US$274 million to lead the world’s fight against the novel coronavirus. At least 14 African countries and European countries are benefitting but America’s oldest African ally and its neighbor, Sierra Leone were left out.
“As part of this comprehensive and generous U.S. response, the State Department and USAID are providing an initial investment of nearly $274 million in emergency health and humanitarian assistance to help countries in need, on top of the funding we already provide to multilateral organizations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF,” the Department of State announced.
Liberia has three confirmed cases of Covid-19 but the country had been faced with inadequate availability of logistics until China and ECOWAS recently donated a consignment of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs) to help in the fight against the disease.
The country partially shutdown with the discovery of the third case – a move that is now hard-hitting the already struggling economy.
But the U.S. did not consider Liberia in its humanitarian and health assistance response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aid, according to the State Department, includes nearly $100 million in emergency health assistance from USAID’s Global Health Emergency Reserve Fund and $110 million in humanitarian assistance from USAID’s International Disaster Assistance account, to be provided for up to 64 of the most at-risk countries facing the threat of this global pandemic. Through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) will receive $64 million in humanitarian assistance to help address the threats posed by COVID-19 in existing humanitarian crisis situations for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
U.S. government agencies are working together to prioritize foreign assistance based on coordination and the potential for impact. With today’s new funds, the United States is providing the following specific assistance:
Africa:
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