US Mission Geneva

The topic of our discussions this week is “effective action on the provision of assistance and coordination with relevant organizations upon request in the case of alleged use of biological or toxin weapons.” Confidence that such assistance will be available strengthens the Biological Weapons Convention. If commitments to provide assistance are real, credible, and effective, they can serve as an incentive for States to join the Convention, and a deterrent to those who might consider using biological weapons.

The floods in Pakistan and droughts in sub-Saharan Africa are the bookends around the lethal hardships that millions around the globe live with daily: lack of access to clean, reliable water and sanitation.

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) entered into force in 1975. It bans development, production, stockpiling or otherwise acquiring/retaining microbial or other biological agents or toxins whatever their origin that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced at the State Department August 20 that both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington and that direct negotiations between the two sides would be relaunched on September 2.

“And now is a time for our shared humanity to move us to help. Americans have always shown great generosity to others facing crises around the world. And I call on you to do what you can. Every dollar makes a difference. $5 can buy 50 high energy bars providing much needed nutrition; $10 can provide a child or mother with a blanket; and about $40 can buy material to shelter a family of four.

More than ever before, the world is – seems engulfed by humanitarian crises, overwhelming suffering as a result of conflict, hurricanes, earthquakes, and really enormous dangers faced by those trying to help people in need.

The U.S. military, which provided rapid support in the earthquake’s immediate aftermath, is now supporting the reconstruction process through medical and engineering projects in a military exercise called “New Horizons.” Units from the Louisiana Army National Guard are providing humanitarian services to Haitians in an exercise that aims to continue U.S. military help for Haiti following the seven months of actions to support earthquake relief.

Rwanda’s progress since the genocide of 1994 has been remarkable and is a testament to the people in facing and overcoming staggering challenges, a senior White House official says. But despite such progress and the recent re-election of President Paul Kagame, the United States remains concerned over recent events in Rwanda, Mike Hammer, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said in a White House statement August 13.

About This Blog USAID finds itself at a unique moment of opportunity. A powerful consensus has formed at the highest levels of the US government that development is vital to the shared interests of an interconnected world. The scale and complexity of the challenges we face are daunting—a billion people live in hunger and the [...]