THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release March 8, 1994 FACT SHEET U.S. ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA The United States is committed to supporting Georgia's efforts to implement market and democratic reforms. U.S. efforts have focused on providing large-scale humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering of the Georgian people during Georgia's difficult transition to an independent, self-sufficient nation. During fiscal year 1993, the U.S. allocated $155 million in aid to Georgia. Most of this aid was humanitarian because civil strife within Georgia precluded implementation of technical assistance on a large scale in 1993. The bulk of the $155 million was in the form of emergency relief to help address the immediate needs of the refugees displaced by the conflict in Abkhazia. Although allocated in FY 1993, some of this aid is still being delivered in early FY 1994. Key humanitarian aid activities include: o provision of medical supplies and medicines o transportation of fuel donated by the international community o establishment of immunization programs for children o contributions to the UN High Commission on Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross efforts to aid refugees So far in FY 1994, the U.S. has allocated nearly $70 million for humanitarian and technical assistance programs for Georgia. This figure includes: o $15 million in humanitarian assistance for special foods for mothers and children, medicines, and contributions to international refugees assistance organizations o $35 million in USDA grant food programs o $8 million for emergency transportation assistance to transport humanitarian aid and to support multilateral activities to improve Georgia's internal transportation network o $8 million for technical assistance for programs in energy, environment, health care, economic restructuring, agribusiness, democratic reform, and exchanges and training. Further aid in FY 1994 will depend on how Georgia's internal situation develops. If Georgia becomes more stable, the U.S. will be able to allocate more technical aid. If, however, the civil strife continues, the U.S. will allocate more humanitarian aid for continued refugee assistance. # # #