Press release

U.S. contributes $50,000 to fight disease
in wake of Senegal floods

DAKAR, October 12, 2005 -- The United States announced today a contribution of $50,000 in emergency assistance to combat cholera and malaria in Senegal, which is experiencing its worst floods in 20 years. The assistance is in response to the Government of Senegal’s efforts to assist 183,000 people affected by the floods. Authorities plan to relocate 60,000 flood victims.

The flooding caused by torrential rains in Senegal has triggered thousands of new cases of cholera. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Senegal has reported 320 deaths among 24,111 cases since January. Some 1,212 new cases were reported last week alone.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will contribute $50,000 to the relief efforts of the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), a non-governmental organization. With a well-established health program in Senegal, CCF works in urban areas such as the capital, Dakar, which have been hardest hit by recent flooding.

CCF will work closely with local government officials to provide emergency assistance in water and sanitation, cholera prevention and distribution of mosquito bed nets, particularly to pregnant women and children, to prevent malaria.

CCF’s concentrated relief efforts for affected populations in outlying areas of Dakar, Joal and Kolda will be supplemented by continued U.S. assistance to Senegal’s public health system, including ongoing activities in maternal health, child survival and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

USAID is the lead agency for the U.S. Government providing economic development and humanitarian assistance to people around the world. As an active partner of the Government and people of Senegal, USAID listens to local concerns and priorities, and then responds with joint activities to help reduce poverty, promote democracy and economic growth, recover from disasters, and prevent conflicts. Since 1961, USAID has invested over $1 billion in a wide range of projects to tackle constraints to national development in Senegal.

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