US provides relief for floods in Guatemala

US provides relief for floods in Guatemala
(AFP) – 19 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The United States said Tuesday it has requested 50,000 dollars in emergency aid for flood-hit Guatemala and reprogrammed another 4.38 million dollars in economic aid for recovery efforts.

"We are very, very concerned about the disaster there," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

The US ambassador in Guatemala City Stephen McFarland at the weekend asked for 50,000 dollars in aid from the US Agency for International Development and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance as a "US initial response," he said.

"We have since reprogrammed 4.38 million dollars in economic support funds to assist Guatemala's recovery efforts," Crowley added.

He also said the US embassy has freed up helicopters which are normally used to help fight drug trafficking for the purpose of surveillance and rescue missions.

"And we'll continue to look for additional ways to provide support to the people of Guatemala," he said.

In Guatemala, at least 45 people died over the weekend amid the heaviest flooding in living memory.
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