Natural Disasters

Seven days after Cyclone Nargis slammed into Burma's densely populated Irrawaddy Delta killing thousands and displacing thousands more, the ruling military junta has given permission for the United States to send in a military C-130 cargo plane with emergency relief supplies on May 12, a White House spokesman says. "We hope this is the beginning of major U.S. assistance to the Burmese people," White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe announced May 8 in Crawford, Texas. "We will continue to work with the government of Burma on additional access for [the U.S. Agency for International Development], nongovernmental organizations [NGOs], as well as our other international partners, to provide assistance to help the Burmese people during their time of need," Johndroe said. He said the United States is working with relief agencies that are in Rangoon, Burma's largest city, to receive the supplies on May 12 and make sure that the aid goes to the Burmese people.

The Bush administration's proposal to use up to 25 percent of emergency food aid funds for purchases of food located near crisis sites would increase U.S. capacity to get food quickly to where it is needed, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns says. "When rapid response is essential, we ask simply for the flexibility to save lives," Johanns told reporters after addressing the International Food Aid Conference April 18 in Kansas City. The annual conference, which drew representatives from 28 countries, is the largest gathering devoted to food aid in the United States.

2008: EU-US Technical Dialogue and Increased Cooperation in Crisis Management and Conflict Prevention (Mar 18, 2008)
2007: USAID Administrator Fore Confirmed by U.S. Senate (Nov 14, 2007) | South America Satellite Coverage Limits Natural Disaster Effects (Apr 12, 2007)

2006: Guatemalan Hurricane Victims To Receive More International Aid (Jul 18, 2006) | United Arab Emirates Joins U.N. Humanitarian Donor Group (May 12, 2006) | U.S. Promotes Disaster Planning Cooperation in Southeast Europe (Mar 22, 2006) | United States Contributes $203.8 Million to U.N. Refugee Agency (Feb 9, 2006) | Review of European Security Issues (Jan 17, 2006)

2005: G8 Supports Development of Warning Systems for Natural Hazards (Jul 8, 2005)

2004: European Union to Help Flood Victims in Haiti, Dominican Republic (Jun 9, 2004)