Santo Domingo D.N. – The United States Government announced an additional $2 million in assistance for a total of $3.4 million to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Dominican Republic. The funds will be managed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Dominican Republic.
The $3.4 million includes $2 million in new economic support funds to address critical needs in the areas of social protection, psychosocial support, education, water and sanitation, and food security in vulnerable communities. This new funding supplements the $1.4 million in previously announced health assistance to address the outbreak, which is supporting epidemiological analysis and forecasting, contact-tracing, as well as pandemic surveillance.
The United States, via USAID, is providing life-saving support by coordinating with the Government of the Dominican Republic, international humanitarian partners, and other stakeholders to identify priority areas for investment.
“This announcement of an additional $2 million destined for the Dominican Republic via USAID is a testament to our commitment to the Dominican Republic.” said Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Shane Myers. “This funding, provided by Congress, will save lives by improving public health education, protecting healthcare facilities, and increasing laboratory, disease-surveillance, and rapid-response capacity. We continue to be a strong partner of the Dominican Republic and this assistance deepens our ongoing collaboration in combating this pandemic.”
The United States and the Dominican Republic have a long history of cooperation and investment in health and development issues. The United States has invested a total of more than $1 billion in the Dominican Republic’s long-term health and development over the past 20 years, including nearly $298 million in health assistance. The contribution of $3.4 million demonstrates the ongoing commitment from the people of the United States to the people of the Dominican Republic to combat COVID-19.