The U.S. Southern Command Delivered More Than $ 400,000 in Humanitarian Aid to El Salvador Since the Start of the Pandemic
The United States Embassy in San Salvador, through the Embassy’s Military Group and thanks to the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) of the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), has provided $ 431,911 to support the needs of El Salvador during the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance has been delivered through 28 donations made in the last year, from March 2020 to March 2021.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, SOUTHCOM has donated more than $14,000 worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) for people in containment centers. It also supported first and second line personnel with PPE, medical overalls, cleaning materials and masks valued in more than $189,000. These donations were delivered to Hospital El Salvador, Hospital Zaldaña, the Presidency and the Salvadoran Fire Department. Some mayors of municipalities located far from San Salvador and affected by the pandemic such as Ataco, Ahuachapán; Santiago de María, Usulután; Chinameca and Sesori, San Miguel, also benefited from the assistance.
The HAP Program also donated subzero freezers worth more than $60,000. Those were distributed in laboratories of the Ministry of Health (MINSAL) in San Salvador, Santa Ana and San Miguel. Thanks to this donation, MINSAL’s capacities to store vaccines and other medicines were strengthened. Likewise, more than $74,000 in water filters were distributed for MINSAL in Sonsonate, San Miguel and San Salvador. Donations were also distributed in communities affected by the pandemic and tropical storms such as San José Guayabal. On March 17, 2021, 125 water purifiers valued at more than $9,000 were delivered to Perico Island, to improve the quality of water for its residents and contribute to their leading a more self-sustainable life.
Additionally, to guarantee adequate sanitary measures, the Southern Command donated 29 hand washing stations valued at $ 30 thousand that were distributed in markets of San Salvador, Santa Ana and La Libertad.
For more than 50 years, SOUTHCOM has focused its efforts on developing ties and strengthening this alliance with El Salvador, which has included a wide variety of humanitarian projects. These efforts will continue to focus on facing the COVID-19 pandemic, a priority fight in the world. This support is in addition to the assistance of more than $ 25 million that the United States government has granted to El Salvador during the pandemic. The United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting its partners in times of crisis.
