Contact: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Press Office, 202-712-4320; Public Information:, 202-712-4810

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 /Standard Newswire/ -- The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it will provide an additional $200,000 towards the local purchase and transport of emergency relief supplies to those affected by the August 15 earthquake that took place off the coast of Peru. This funding is in addition to the $100,000 previously provided, bringing total USAID funding for assistance in the aftermath of the quake to $300,000.

In addition to funding and the now six member USAID emergency assessment team on the ground, the Agency is deploying a support team of three specially trained technicians along with a module of communications and life-support equipment and commodities to assist the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team. These technicians come from Virginia's Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, which operates internationally under an agreement with USAID. The support team and module will assist the UNDAC team with setting up one or more operations and coordination centers in the affected region.

This is the first time USAID has deployed an UNDAC support module. The module includes IT and life-support equipment (including tents and generators), as well as supplies such as food and water to support up to 15 people for as long as 21 days in the field.

USAID will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as appropriate. For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.