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Emergency Supplemental Package for Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia Fact Sheet released by the Bureau for Western Hemisphere Affairs May 25, 1999

On May 20, 1999, President Clinton signed an emergency supplemental funding package which included urgently needed resources to help Central Americans repair and rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Mitch. With these funds, farmers will be able to plant new crops in the final weeks of the growing season; roads, hospitals, and schools can be rebuilt and other important economic activity can resume. Following are key components of the package:

• The supplemental brings the total U.S.Government contribution to Hurricane Mitch relief and reconstruction, including previous expenditures and reprogramming, to $1.1 billion.

• The supplemental provides $559.3 million for Central American reconstruction:

• $136 million for public health;
• $283 million to restart economies;
• $55 million for housing and schools;
• $21.5 million to assist local governments in disaster planning and fighting corruption;
• $2 million to clear landmines in Honduras and Nicaragua;
• $5.5 million in AID operating costs;
• $1.5 million for the AID inspector general;
• $.5 million for GAO auditing; and
• $54.3 million for DOD New Horizons exercises.

• In addition to $559.3 million for Central American reconstruction, the supplemental provides:

• $158 million to replenish AID and DOD disaster relief accounts which may be needed again this season;
• $64 million for environmental management and disaster mitigation;
• $41 million for debt relief;
• $50 million to help the Caribbean recover from Hurricane Georges;
• $10 million to assist with earthquake relief in Colombia; and
• $80 million for INS detention costs.

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