Tsunami Relief Efforts

President Bush (Jan. 10):  USAID has delivered food, temporary shelter, hygiene kits and supplies to help people survive. In other words, we've been focused on the relief effort; now we're beginning to focus on rehabilitation and rebuilding. And as a result, USAID is arranging small loans for those whose livelihoods have been destroyed. We were talking about the NGOs who have been working along with USAID. . . . beginning to help rebuild lives and help people get back on their feet.  [full text]

Travel to Africa
Secretary Powell traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, where he witnessed the signing of the Sudan comprehensive peace agreement. While in Nairobi, he met with Kenyan Government officials, as well as Sudanese leaders. Secretary Powell also was interviewed on ABC, CNN, and Fox. [more]

Palestinian Elections
Deputy Secretary Armitage (Jan. 7): "My own view is a reasonable process will lead to a reasonable solution which most Palestinians will endorse because they want to live in peace and security in their own state called Palestine, and it's about time they be allowed to do so." [full text]

Section 2207 Report on Iraq Relief and Reconstruction
The Section 2207 Report to Congress is a quarterly report on the use of Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Funds. The January 2005 report is available in HTML and PDF.

Islam in a Religiously Diverse United States
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jon Purnell met with participants of the Community Connections "Islam in a Religiously Diverse United States" program to discuss their 3-week trip to the United States. During the hour-long roundtable meeting, alumni shared their impressions of the U.S. and talked about the effect that the program has had upon their lives.