The United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), finalized an agreement to provide the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with $800,000 to respond to floods in Sri Lanka.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, Ertharin Cousin, welcomed the contribution, saying, “In the wake of historic flooding that took place in January and February 2011, the U.S. hopes to help vulnerable Sri Lankan farmers and their families get back on their feet. The U.S. continues to partner with FAO, and believes that ongoing reform efforts will continue to improve the organization’s ability to serve populations struggling with food insecurity.”
The contribution will provide emergency agriculture support to flood-affected farmers in Eastern and Central Sri Lanka. To date, in Fiscal Year 2011, USAID/OFDA has obligated $13.85 million to FAO emergency operations worldwide.
