Georgia Seeks USD 1-2 bln Aid – USAID

The Georgian government is seeking USD 1 billion to USD 2 billion in aid to repair and develop infrastructure after the armed conflict with Russia, Henrietta Fore, the administrator of USAID, said on August 22.

“Georgia has given us rather a long list of things they would like to see — communications is certainly part of it, hydro-electric dams…,” Reuters reported, quoting the USAID head as saying to reporters on a plane returning from a visit to Georgia.

“That’s really reconstruction, it’s for infrastructure. It’s not just because of hostilities. It’s for development,” she said.

She said the request also covered assistance for housing for Georgian displaced persons, who fled the conflict-affected areas.

“There is a good amount that needs to be done,” Fore said. “It does not all need to be done by the United States. It can be done by international organisations as well as other bilateral organisations.”