2007 Programs and Events
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Silverberg visits West Bank Village Projects
June 2007
"The United States sees a better future for the Palestinian people and is working to provide them needed assistance." U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, Kristen Silverberg made the above observation during her June 6 visit to the West Bank as she toured several U.S. Agency for International Development-funded projects in the Palestinian villages of Biddu and Beit Surik. The projects ranged from land reclamation to literacy training all part of the US government’s $35.3 million donation in support of the United Nations World Food Program in the West Bank and Gaza.
The US contribution provides an estimated 47,664 metric tons of essential commodities for approximately 304,500 beneficiaries who receive food baskets containing wheat flour, beans, vegetable oil, sugar and iodized salt. Assistant Secretary Silverberg discussed the projects with the Palestinian participants, including a group of women determined to master the Arabic alphabet. The Assistant Secretary visited with a Palestinian family that has been receiving U.S.-funded food assistance since the father became unemployed two years ago. The father explained that, thanks to the assistance, he was able to shift his limited cash resources to pay for this year’s school tuition for his four children.
