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Firefighting Assistance of the Embassy of the United States exceeds 1.000.000 American dollars 06/10/07 The Ambassador of the United States James C. Cason announced on Saturday, October 6 an additional cooperation of approximately 450.000 American dollars in equipment and supplies to combat fires in response to the national emergency declared in Paraguay.

This donation includes 3 modern firefighter trucks and special supplies to combat flames and to protect Paraguayan firefighters in the combat line.

With this donation, North American assistance exceeds one million American dollars (see amounts in chronological order).

The Embassy of the United States in Paraguay, apart from helping extinguish forest fires that menace the Forest Reserves of Paraguay, is also giving humanitarian aid to the affected and displaced communities. It is worth noticing that North American help was vital before and after the emergency.

CRONOLOGY OF AMERICAN ASSISTANCE:

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Equipment and modern fire trucks: helmets (20), gloves (20), trousers (20), shirts/jackets (60), a tanker and two fire truck (currently in transit by boat from the United States): Value of the donation: 444.314 American dollars.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Donation of 100.000 American dollars to the Paraguayan Red Cross to help families in San Pedro. This amount was used in the acquisition and distribution of food and seeds.  

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Donation of approximately  300.000 American dollars in supplies and equipment for firefighters:  Mc Leod forest rakes (200), water pumas (4) and their accessories (100), forest shovel (200), hoses of 1 y 1 1/2” (20  and 4), rakes to combat fires (320); helmets (400), gloves(500), water backpacks (800), glasses (500), atmospheric kits (4), Nomex shirts and trousers (1000); hoses (222).  This was sent and distributed to forest firefighters and park guards of the Mbaracayu, San Rafael and Cerro Cora National Parks and to firefighters of Filadelfia, Loma Plata, Concepción, Colonias Unidas, Carepegua, Horqueta, Capiata, Villarrica, Independencia, Chore, Caaguazu, Villa Hayes, Guarambare, Encarnación and Coronel Oviedo, and other affected zones and communities.  Part of this assistance was given through the Moises Bertoni Foundation.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Donation of tools and supplies for firefighters and humanitarian aid valued in 30.000 American dollars in the communities of Tacuati, Guayayby and San Estanislao of the Department of San Pedro. 

Sunday, September 16, 2007

The Embassy of the United States delivered the first donation of tools and equipment for firefighters, medicine and food valued in approximately 20.000 American dollars for firefighters and victims in various cities of the Department of Concepción.  

Friday, September 14, 2007

Donation of 50.000 American dollars to the Paraguayan Red Cross for the buying of food for families in San Pedro and Concepción.

Monday, September 10, 2007 and on…

The cooperation of the United States valued in 100.000 American dollars  included the presence of three experts in forest fires and important logistics work for the reception and the delivery of donations to different parts of the country. The analysis of one of the experts, Maria Luisa Alfar,o was of vital importance for the national emergency declaration on Wednesday, September 12. One of the experts is still working in Paraguay with the firefighters.

Total amount of US Assistance: 1.044.314 American dollars

It is worth mentioning that before the national emergency and the immediate help pf one million dollars, other donations to combat fires in Paraguay included:

February 2007

The Embassy of the United States donated 1230 units of fire resistant trousers for Paraguayan firefighters valued in 83.000 American dollars.  

Since 2003

The Embassy of the United States has been training and delivering equipment to local authorities and more than 600 Paraguayan firefighters to combat forest fires in the last years.

The government of the United States of America is committed to cooperate with Paraguay supporting the efforts to equip and train the Paraguay’s emergency system, develop the capacity of a national response for fires and assist those in the communities affected by adversity during the last fires.