2006 Ambassador Speeches
The Ambassador Inaguration of The WFP Regional Center Ffr Humanitarian Response
Ambassador's Remarks
June 21, 2006
I am very pleased to be here today for the inauguration of the World Food Program Regional Center for Humanitarian Response.
The Center has been designed to function as a rapid disaster response facility for the handling, storage, and delivery of food aid, in support of the work of regional relief agencies in the event of tragedy striking the region.
We all know that Central America is a region that is vulnerable to natural disasters. We cannot prevent them, but we can be ready when they happen. This Center will help.
Our efforts are ongoing. For the past four years, the United States has supported El Salvador through the different disaster-preparedness programs of the WFP. Our support has focused on prevention of malnutrition among families who lack food security and who are exposed to natural disasters and other external factors.
My government is pleased to be a partner in this effort by providing 25% of the total funding of this project. We are also the donor of over 40 percent of the budget for WFP’s global operations, with more than $1 billion provided to WFP world-wide activities in 2006.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the government of El Salvador and the World Food Program for taking this important initiative that is so vital to the well-being of the Central America region.
Thank you.