August 19, 2005
| HEALTH CLINIC RE-OPENS AFTER FLOODING WITH AMERICAN ASSISTANCE |
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Rodger D. Garner joined Mayor Ioan Lajos of Foeni (Timis County) this morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the re-opening of the Foeni health care clinic. The clinic was renovated with U.S. Government funding after suffering severe damage in the recent flood disaster.
The health clinic is the only health care facility that serves Foeni's 1,780 inhabitants. The ability of its two doctors to provide adequate health care was jeopardized by flood damage precisely when health risks for villagers were highest.
With U.S. funding through a CHF International project, a local NGO, the Rural Assistance Center, hired four unemployed Foeni residents to assist in renovation of the clinic. Many of CHF International's flood relief projects follow this model, finding employment for locals while rebuilding damaged houses, schools, and medical facilities quickly and safely.
"Disasters show us nature at its most violent and unforgiving," said Mr. Garner, "but they often bring out the best in people." He praised CHF International and the citizens of Foeni for their dedication and hard work.
American efforts for flood relief in Timis County will continue. $1.2 million will be designated for economic and social recovery projects in communities affected by floods, as well as for projects that will help such communities prevent future flooding disasters.
This initiative is part of the United States' 3 million USD contribution to Romania's flood recovery.
These funds have purchased food, personal hygiene items, portable heaters, water purification systems, and grants and loans for renovation projects within affected communities through USAID. The projects include:
Grants and loans for repairing/rebuilding homes, schools, bridges, etc.
Direct assistance to farmers and small businesses
Public information campaigns to prevent flood-related health emergencies
Other health, social, and economic projects
Also, the U.S. Department of Defense has donated goods and equipment for the renovation of houses, schools, and medical facilities. "The United States is committed to helping you make the future as bright and as safe as possible," Mr. Garner assured Foeni residents at the health care clinic.
For more information, please contact: Mihaela Popescu, USAID/Romania Tel. 021 / 316 1222
19 August, 2005
| GUVERNUL STATELOR UNITE SPRIJINA REDESCHIDEREA DISPENSARULUI DIN FOENI |
Directorul Agentiei Statelor Unite pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), Rodger D. Garner, impreuna cu primarul localitatii Foeni (jud. Timis), Ioan Lajos, au redeschis, in aceasta dimineata, dispensarul din localitate. Acesta a fost renovat cu ajutorul finantarilor primite din partea Guvernului Statelor Unite, dupa distrugerile provocate de ultimele inundatii.
Dispensarul este singura unitate medicala care deserveste cei 1.780 de locuitori din Foeni. Posibilitatea doctorilor de a oferi ingrjire medicala adecvata a fost afectata de inundatii exact in momentul in care riscurile de imbolnavire a populatiei erau cele mai mari.
Centrul pentru Asistenta Rurala, o organizatie non-guvernamentala locala, a angajat patru locuitori din Foeni, toti someri, pentru a ajuta la renovarea dispensarului, in cadrul unui proiect CHF International, finantat de Statele Unite. Multe dintre proiectele de asistenta umanitara ale CHF International urmeaza acest model, oferind locuri de munca pentru localnici pentru a reconstrui, rapid si in siguranta, casele, scolile si unitatile medicale afectate.
"Dezastrele ne arata latura violenta si necrutatoare a naturii", a declarat Rodger Garner, "dar, adeseori, ele ne dezvaluie tot ce este mai bun in oameni". Garner a laudat CHF International si locuitorii din Foeni pentru activitatea si implicarea lor.
Asistenta umanitara americana pentru judetul Timis va continua. 1,2 milioane USD vor fi acordate pentru proiecte de reabilitare economica si sociala in comunitatile afectate de inundatii, precum si pentru proiecte care vor ajuta astfel de comunitati sa previna dezastrele provocate de inundatii.
Aceasta initiativa se inscrie in contributia in valoare de 3 milioane USD acordata Romaniei de Statele Unite, in urma inundatiilor.
Cu aceste fonduri s-au cumparat alimente, articole de igiena personala, dispozitive de incalzire portabile, sisteme de purificare a apei; de asemenea, aceste fonduri au constat si in imprumuturi rambursabile si nerambursabile pentru proiecte de reabilitare in comunitatile afectate, proiecte implementate de catre USAID. Printre acestea se numara:
Imprumuturi rambursabile si nerambursabile pentru repararea caselor, scolilor, podurilor, etc.
Asistenta directa acordata agricultorilor si micilor fermieri
Campanii publice de informare pentru prevenirea riscurilor de imbolnavire din cauza inundatiilor
Alte proiecte sociale, economice si de sanatate
De asemenea, Departamentul de Aparare al Statelor Unite a donat bunuri si echipamente pentru renovarea caselor, scolilor si unitatilor medicale.
"Statele Unite sunt hotarate sa va ajute sa va construiti un viitor cat se poate de luminos si sigur", i-a asigurat dl. Garner pe locuitorii din Foeni, prezenti la redeschiderea dispensarului.
Pentru informatii suplimentare, va rugam sa o contactati pe Mihaela Popescu, USAID/Romania, la tel. 021 / 316 1222.