New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2001

SCHUMER CALLS ON DEFENSE DEPARTMENT TO HELP DELIVER EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES TO EL SALVADOR

Schumer, El Salvadorian Ambassador Roberto Andino and Consul General Patricia Maza-Pittsford Say Military Cargo Planes Desperately Needed To Transport Supplies From NY Warehouses To El Salvador Communities Ravaged By Deadly Earthquakes

Standing with the families of victims of the recent El Salvador earthquakes , El Salvadorian Ambassador to the United Nations Roberto Andino and El Salvadorian Consul General Patricia Maza-Pittsford, US Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the Department of Defense to immediately provide cargo planes to help deliver relief supplies to the earthquake-ravaged country.

"Many organizations have collected food, clothing, medicine and other equipment to help the people of El Salvador, but these supplies are currently sitting in warehouses across New York," Schumer wrote in a letter to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield . " Each additional day these supplies remain in our warehouses is another day millions of Salvadorans have to wait to begin rebuilding their lives. "

On January 13^th, an earthquake measuring 7.6 in magnitude struck El Salvador, killing more than 850 people and injuring thousands. One month later, a second devastating quake, measuring 6.6 in magnitude, killed an additional 275 people and injured hundreds more. The two earthquakes have left 1.2 million people homeless and caused an estimated $3 billion in damage. Making matters worse, the country's rainy season begins in May, adding the prospect of mudslides and flooding that could inflict further damage on homes and business and new public health emergencies.

In his letter to Rumsfield, Schumer stressed that cargo planes were needed immediately "to ensure that the supplies already collected reach El Salvador and to prevent a drop-off in future donations."

Schumer also wrote Donald Pressley, Acting Administrator for the US Agency for International Development (US AID), to ask for his agency's support in expediting the delivery of much needed supplies. Patricia Maza-Pittsford, Consul General of El Salvador ; Roberto Andino , El Salvador Ambassador to the UN ; Luis F. Mendez of El Salvador te Nesecita ; and the families of victims of the earthquakes joined Schumer at a press conference to discuss the need for the immediate assistance.

Representative Michael McNulty from Albany co-authored the letters with Schumer.

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