VOA常速英语:美国援助非洲控制疫情

Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the U.S. Government.The United States government has committed more than $11 billion aimed at fighting the COVID-19 pandemic abroad, including vaccine research, funding for preparedness efforts, humanitarian aid, and more. Of this total, the State Department and USAID alone have provided more than $1 billion in foreign assistance to date.An additional $4 billion has been donated by U.S. private businesses, non-profit groups, charities, faith-based organizations and individuals.

U.S. Agency for International Development Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick noted that in Africa “our U.S. government assistance includes more than $361.1 million to 39 countries, in addition to regional programming across West Africa and the Sahel.”In Nigeria, USAID is providing more than $41 million to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are bolstering risk communications, providing clean water, and helping implement practical solutions to stem the spread of the virus,” said Deputy Administrator Glick in a recent speech.In South Africa, the United States recently delivered 50 ventilators to assist the nation with its national response to COVID-19.These ventilators reflect state-of-the-art U.S. technology and will give South Africa flexibility in treating patients affected by the virus. All American assistance programs, stressed Deputy Administrator Glick, “reflect American values and America’s commitment to free markets and free people. Our foreign assistance has always been designed to promote national sovereignty, prosperity, democratic governance, accountability to citizens and individual rights.”