United States announces additional US $2.5 million in COVID-19 related assistance for Brazil

The United States has announced that it is providing an additional US $2.5 million in assistance to Brazil to mitigate the health and socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. The new funds raise the total U.S. government assistance to $6.5 million (approximately R$ 37 million) to date.  The new funding includes US $2 million (R$ 10.5 million) in new health funding that will provide immediate support to vulnerable communities of the Amazon, as well as $500,000 (R$ 2.8 million) in new humanitarian assistance to support COVID-19 response efforts for refugees and host communities in Brazil. This assistance is in addition to the US $950,000 previously announced on May 1 for economic support for vulnerable populations in Brazil. Also, the U.S. government, through the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), previously announced on May 19 approximately US $3 million in global health funds to strengthen Brazil’s public health response to COVID-19. 

On the announcement, Ambassador Todd Chapman underscored: “This additional health and humanitarian funding targeted toward vulnerable populations in Brazil will assist those who need it the most and clearly demonstrates our strong bilateral partnership and continued commitment to the people of Brazil.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will work through its network of private sector and civil society partners and in coordination with the Brazilian government to quickly mobilize COVID-19 emergency response funds of US $2 million to assist vulnerable communities in the Amazon region.  . This approach reflects USAID’s commitment, under its New Partnerships Initiative, to elevate local leadership by engaging with new and underutilized partners. Activities will include risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, including water and sanitation and support to social safety nets, such as provision of food and hygiene kits to remote communities in self-isolation.

The State Department’s Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) is providing $500,000 (R$ 2.8 million) in support for the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s global COVID response in Brazil. Specifically, it will bolster resources and capacity in existing humanitarian crises and in places where large flows of vulnerable migrants occur due to the pandemic.  IOM’s efforts will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable refugees and migrants in Brazil through activities that include provision of humanitarian assistance, support for isolation and treatment centers, health and hygiene programs, protection activities, and migration management support.

Through the American people’s generosity and the U.S. government’s action, the United States continues to demonstrate global leadership in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The American people continue to prove they are the most generous humanitarians in the world with commitment today of an additional $162 million for COVID-19 response, bringing the total to date to more than $1 billion since the outbreak began.  See this Fact Sheet for more information. The United States will continue its ongoing discussion and commitment to work together with Brazil to improve the lives of our own citizens and to seek ways to assist others in the region and beyond to combat COVID-19.