WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, March 1, Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, will be speaking at the Foreign Press Center to discuss USAID's commitment to assist communities in the Sahel region.

WHAT

Washington Foreign Press Center On-The-Record Roundtable

BRIEFER

Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance

TOPIC

Increased U.S. assistance to the Sahel region of Africa

WHEN

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 10:15 - 10:45 a.m.

WHERE

National Press Building, 529 14th Street NW, Suite 800

BACKGROUND

Due to erratic rainfall, failed harvests, high food prices, and conflict, more than seven million people across the Sahel region of western Africa need emergency humanitarian assistance. Nancy Lindborg, USAID Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, has just returned from Niger and Burkina Faso, where she met with local communities, assistance implementing partners, and government officials about their perspectives on the drought and the outlook for the food supply as the lean season approaches in the Sahel. She also has announced an additional $33 million in humanitarian funding for the region. With this additional funding, USAID has provided a total of more than $270 in humanitarian assistance in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to address food insecurity in the Sahel. The U.S. is focused on the need to mobilize early in response to warnings in the Sahel.

BIO

http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/organization/nancy-e-lindborg

For more information about the roundtable, please contact Dick Custin at custindr2@state.gov or 202-504-6320.

For more information about the Foreign Press Center, please visit http://fpc.state.gov/.

Foreign media only.