The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Serbia is partnering with the Red Cross of Serbia (RCS) to serve communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in Serbia. To get immediate assistance to people in critical situations in Serbia, USAID provided a $150,000 emergency grant to the Red Cross of Serbia to procure essential items for Serbia’s most vulnerable families and groups, including the elderly, primarily in several of Serbia’s least developed municipalities.
The funding from the United States will purchase 4,000 emergency hygiene parcels and 4,000 food parcels for families. The grant will also enable Red Cross rapid mobile response teams to train volunteers on personal protection and best practices and to have the necessary disinfectants and fuel to carry out their critical response activities.
The support to RCS is part of a total of $1.38 million in US COVID-19 assistance to Serbia so far, including efforts through United Nations agencies to provide 6,000 test kits, medicines, informational materials and other commodities.
“The United States is proud to partner with such an effective and trusted group like the Serbian Red Cross to provide food and hygiene supplies to the elderly and other at-risk populations across Serbia.” – U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Anthony F. Godfrey
“On behalf of the Red Cross of Serbia, I would like to thank the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Serbia for supporting our most vulnerable citizens in these globally difficult times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This support will provide the most needed assistance, food and hygiene parcels, for the most vulnerable, as well as disinfectants for the Mobile Red Cross teams operating on a daily basis in 165 municipalities.’’ – Prof. Dr. Dragan Radovanovic, President of the Red Cross of Serbia.
The RCS provides critical services and supplies to people all throughout Serbia via its network of more than 165 municipal Red Cross branches, and 2,900 active volunteers during this situation.
Meanwhile, with U.S. support, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has also just opened state-of-the-art Red Cross Emergency Operations Centers in North Macedonia and Serbia that are already providing critical support to the country’s COVID-19 response efforts. Red Cross disaster experts are working out of the new EOC’s to monitor the coronavirus outbreak in real time, providing vital information to local emergency authorities and the public. Through IFRC, the U.S. is also supporting the Red Cross in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro to provide training and equipment for additional EOCs that will soon be up and running.
The United States will continue to take action in coordination with other international partners to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the globe, USAID is supporting countries affected by COVID-19 by providing high-quality, transparent, and meaningful assistance. We are working directly with governments, international organizations, NGOs, the private sector, and other organizations responding on the ground to combat the dangerous pathogen. This includes working with frontline workers to slow the spread, care for the affected, and equip local communities with the tools needed to fight COVID-19.
Since 2001, the United States Government has invested approximately $1 billion to stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance in Serbia.