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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President


For Immediate Release September 30, 1998
            VICE PRESIDENT GORE HIGHLIGHTS U.S. ASSISTANCE 
                  TO HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 
                    IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE GEORGES

Washington, DC -- Vice President Gore today highlighted Administration efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Georges in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The federal government will deploy three C-130 aircrafts, departing from New York today, to provide supplies to hurricane victims.

"While nothing can erase the pain this devastating hurricane has caused so many families in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, this assistance will help them begin to rebuild their lives," Vice President Gore said. "I want to assure these families that the federal government will stand by to offer as much assistance as needed to get these communities back on their feet."

The federal assistance includes:

     Three C-130 aircrafts to bring humanitarian relief to the
     victims of Hurricane Georges in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

     A U.S. delegation headed by U.S. Agency for International
     Development (USAID) Administrator J. Brian Atwood, Department of
     Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Andrew M. Cuomo,
     and Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan are in the Dominican
     Republic and Haiti to survey relief efforts and announce
     additional recovery efforts.

     100,000 metric tons of wheat, valued at $10 million donated by
     the Agriculture Department to the Dominican government.
     Authorized under the President's Food Aid Initiative, the
     proceeds of these sales will be used for reconstruction and
     development projects.

     In addition to directing the Defense Department assistance, the

Vice President also coordinated with U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to facilitate the transportation of these relief supplies.

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