USDA Gives 56,600 MT Goods to Russia and Georgia

WASHINGTON - May 9/02 - SNS -- The USDA is donating 56,600 metric tons (MT) of various agricultural products to two aid agencies in Russia and Georgia for use in their respective countries.

The gifts include 30,000 MT of soybean meal, 1,000 MT of bulgur, 100 MT of nonfat dry milk, 500 MT of vegetable oil and 25,000 MT of wheat.

The 30,000 MT of soybean meal will go to the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation (VRF) for use in Russia. The agency will sell the meal and use the proceeds to implement a mass immunization program over a three-year period to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among children in the Ulianovsk, Leningrad, and Voronezh oblasts, as well as the Khanty-Mansiysky Okrug where vaccine-preventable diseases are at a very high rate.

The VRF will vaccinate 550,000 children and adolescents aged 12 and 13 years old against hepatitis B. Approximately 100,000 children ranging in age from 2 months to 2 years will be vaccinated against haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). VRF will also vaccinate health care workers who are responsible for administering the vaccines against hepatitis B.

Wheat, bulgur, vegetable oil and nonfat dry milk is going to Counterpart International, Incorporated, (CPI) for use in Georgia under the Global Food for Education (GFE) program. The donation includes 1,000 MT of bulgur, 100 MT of nonfat dry milk, 500 MT of vegetable oil and 25,000 MT of wheat.

During the 2002-03 school year, CPI will provide daily meals to students in approximately 140 schools in the Kakheti and Samagrelo regions of Georgia. Targeted schools include boarding schools for orphans and children with no support.

CPI will provide a hot porridge and complement the meal by using proceeds from wheat sales to purchase locally produced eggs, cheese, fruits and vegetables. Additionally, sales proceeds will be used to fund school repair, distribution of donated products such as winter clothing, kitchen equipment and school supplies, and to conduct nutrition and food safety education programs.