USAID Sends Assistance to Ukraine After Methane Explosion

Washington, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are providing $50,000 in emergency funding to implementing partner International Relief and Development for the provision of emergency assistance to the families of Ukrainian miners affected by a November 18 methane explosion.

The explosion occurred in the Zasyadko coal mine, located approximately 450 miles southeast of the capital of Kiev in the Donetsk Oblast. According to recent media reports, the explosion and subsequent fire killed 89 miners and another 10 are listed as missing. Emergency responders evacuated 367 miners, who had been trapped in the mine and hospitalized 28 people for methane inhalation.

USAID, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in the Ukraine, will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as appropriate.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit:

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.