U.S. support for El Salvador to meet the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and post-Tropical Storm Amanda and Cristobal recovery continues to arrive. U.S. NGOs People Helping People and Convoy of Hope sent a donation of 64,000 pounds in food and hygiene kits to benefit Salvadorans.
The C-17 cargo plane, from the Department of Defense through the Denton Program, arrived with the donation this Saturday, August 8, at the 2nd Air Brigade located in Comalapa, and was received by U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson and the Convoy of Hope El Salvador Director Winifred Patricia Menendez.
The donation of 64,000 pounds of non-perishable food, valued at $150,000, includes: pancake mix, rice, lentils, powdered milk, sugar, dried fruits, dehydrated potatoes, instant soups, canned tomatoes, and hygiene kits. Convoy of Hope plans to distribute the entire donation, with the support of other social organizations, to 29,500 people nationwide, especially in La Paz and Sonsonate, in a period of 20 days.
The COVID-19 pandemic and Tropical Storms Amanda and Cristóbal have caused food shortages nationwide. This donation is expected to benefit low-income families and children with malnutrition. Foods such as fortified rice help make children’s diets more balanced and healthier. In addition, the donation will help the economy of the families.
The arrival of this important donation is a sign of the United States’ commitment to support El Salvador. Since the onset of the emergency, the United States has donated nearly $72 million to address the COVID-19 pandemic, improve security and strengthen the Salvadoran economy. U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson stressed the importance of U.S. cooperation in El Salvador. “This donation is an indication that the ties between the U.S. and El Salvador go beyond government to government relations. U.S. NGOs like Convoy of Hope and People Helping People, are also carrying out impactful work on behalf of El Salvador.”
Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services is consistently among the first to respond to disasters around the world. Highly regarded for their scalable response and distribution model, they utilize eight international warehouses, four domestic warehouses, a specialized disaster response fleet, and a highly trained team of staff and volunteers to respond to disasters quickly and effectively. They serve millions of people affected by natural and man-made disasters every year through partnerships with local churches, businesses, government agencies, other nonprofits, and their donors and volunteers.
