Aid agency wants $45bn for '09
2008-12-02 21:12
Kuwait City - The head of the US government's foreign aid agency says she is hoping for $45bn to spend on aid programmes around the world next year despite the global financial crisis.
The head of the US Agency for International Development says she is looking for Congress to increase the agency's aid budget by 10% for 2009.
Henrietta Fore spoke on Tuesday during a stop in Kuwait. A day earlier she was in Qatar for a UN gathering aimed at gaining commitments from rich nations to help developing countries.
Fore says even at a time of economic crisis, offering assistance to other nations remains important for the US.
USAID spends less than half a percent of the US federal budget on expanding democracy and development efforts.
- SAPA