18 December 2001
Text: Major U.S. Grain Shipment Headed to Afghanistan
(115,000 tons of wheat is largest shipment in memory) (580)
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching
two ships from West coast ports of the United States to Afghanistan
carrying a combined total of 115,000 metric tons of bulk, soft white
wheat, according to a December 17 USAID press release.
"This is the largest combined shipment of food aid from the U.S. to
the Afghan people in recent memory," said Bear McConnell, director of
USAID's Central Asia Task Force. "These shipments of food aid will
help feed over 7 million hungry Afghans for a month, and will save the
lives of many people who are dangerously malnourished."
The cost of the wheat and its transport amounts to almost $23 million.
The United States has provided more than $370 million in aid to
Afghanistan since last year.
Following is the text of the USAID press release:
(begin text)
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID)
PRESS RELEASE
Washington, DC 20523
December 17, 2001
U.S. GOVERNMENT SENDS 115,000 TONS OF WHEAT TO AFGHAN PEOPLE
Largest Combined US Food Shipment Since Sept. 11
Portland, Oregon and Kalama, Washington -- Two ships, carrying a
combined total of 115,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat to Central Asia,
are being loaded at separate ports on the Colombia River, one in
Oregon and one in Washington. The loading of the ships is scheduled to
be completed in the next few days and the ships are expected to depart
for the 10,000 mile, month-long journey to Central Asia before
Christmas.
Bear McConnell, Director for the U.S. Agency for International
Development's (USAID) Central Asia Task Force, was in Portland and
Kalama today reviewing the operation.
The tanker docked in Kalama, Washington, the M/V Sag River, is slated
to carry 60,000 metric tons of bulk, soft white wheat. On the other
side of the river, in Portland, Oregon, a ship called the Monte Pelmo
will carry 55,000 metric tons of bulk, soft white wheat.
"This is the largest combined shipment of food aid from the U.S. to
the Afghan people in recent memory," McConnell said. "These shipments
of food aid will help feed over 7 million hungry Afghans for a month,
and will save the lives of many people who are dangerously
malnourished." McConnell said.
The wheat, which was purchased by USAID and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) will be delivered to Karachi, Pakistan. A large
majority of the wheat, 105,000 metric tons will be sent to
Afghanistan, and the remaining 10,000 metric tons will be sent to
Pakistan. The total cost of the freight and commodities is nearly
$22.8 million.
"Shipments of American farm products achieve the dual goals of helping
the needy and aiding our producers," U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
said. "While we are at war overseas and have low commodity prices at
home, this purchase and delivery is welcome on all sides."
In FY01, the United States supplied more than 80 percent of all food
aid for vulnerable Afghans through the World Food Program, and has
already provided 50 percent in FY02.
Afghanistan was the U.S. government's number one recipient of
humanitarian assistance prior to September 11, and remains so today.
The U.S. Agency for International Development is the U.S. government
agency that has provided development and humanitarian assistance
worldwide for over 40 years.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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