U.S. continues to support El Salvador’s efforts during the COVID-19 emergency
May 14, 2020
Support from the United States Government for El Salvador’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 emergency continues to arrive. This week, the United States, through the United States Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID / OFDA), made a donation of supplies to the “Cruz Verde” (Green Cross) and the “Asociación de Comandos de Salvamento” (Association of Rescue Commandos) to augment their response capacity. U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Ronald Johnson delivered the supplies to Luis Colorado Laínez, President of Cruz Verde, and Roberto Cruz, Executive Director of Comandos de Salvamento. Also present at the donation was the Director of Civil Protection, Willian Hernández; USAID El Salvador Director David Gosney and USAID/OFDA Representative Sergio David Gutiérrez.
The donation will be distributed between the two relief agencies, and includes 4 Stihl sprayers, model SR420; 4 Stihl sprayers, model SR430; 10 gallons of Stihl oil; 150 gallons of 5th generation quaternary ammonium, 50 gallons of liquid hand soap, 50 gallons of 90 alcohol, 50 gallons of gel alcohol, 20 boxes of face masks and 200 face shields.
The Embassy also delivered 1,318 boxes of military food rations (MRE), equivalent to 15,816 rations of instant food, that will be distributed among customs, prison and National Civilian Police (PNC) personnel, who are serving during this emergency. Each serving contains pre-cooked ingredients to supply the calorie and protein needs that the human body needs to perform a full shift.
Since the beginning of the emergency, the United States has donated nearly $72 million to address the COVID-19 pandemic, improve security, strengthen the economy, and support the fight against illegal migration in El Salvador. As a key partner in the country, it has delivered more than 80,000 donations of food and hygiene kits, bedding, disinfectant gel and protective equipment for people in quarantine and for those who protect the safety and health of the population. In the past 20 years, the United States has invested $2.6 billion in El Salvador’s long-term development.
