News about US Borrowing $157 Million To Give Aid To Lebanon    $157 millionAccording to 3 sources While US citizens get 0 $s in the wake of HELENE hurricane  

By U.S. Embassy Beirut
3 MINUTE READ   October 4, 2024

The United States will provide nearly $157
million in new U.S.humanitarian assistance
to support populations affected by
conflict in Lebanon and the region.

This funding will address new and existing 

needs of internally displaced persons and 

refugee populations inside Lebanon and the 

communitiesthat host them. The assistance 

will also support those fleeing to 

neighboring Syria.

This life-saving assistance from the American 

people includes nearly$82 million immediately 

available through the Department of State’s
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration 

and $75 million throughthe United States 

Agency for International Development’s Bureau 

for Humanitarian Assistance. Of this total, US

AID has already deployed $11.5 million, and 

workingwith Congress plans to make another 

$63.5 million available in the coming weeks, to 

ensure that vital humanitarian assistance can 

continue to reach the most vulnerable 

communities in need. This emergency food, 

shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, protection, water, 

and sanitation assistance will be a critical 

lifeline for those who have endured 

unimaginable hardships.

The United States provided nearly $386 million 

over the last year tosupport vulnerable 

populations in Lebanon and Syria impacted by

 theincrease in conflict. This new humanitarian 

assistance comes at a time of devastating 

humanitarian crisis for Lebanon, with more than 

a millionpeople displaced from their homes. 

The United States is committed to helping those 

most vulnerable in Lebanon and throughout the 

region. We urge other donors to join us in 

stepping up to contribute to these new

humanitarian needs.

Mayorkas says FEMA has no more disaster funds, but IG report says agency is sitting  Story by Elizabeth MacDonald • 5h •

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faces a new firestorm of criticism for claiming FEMA is out of disaster funds right as the Inspector General for Homeland Security released a report saying FEMA is sitting on at least $8.3 billion in untapped, unspent funds. 

On Oct 2, Mayorkas said, "We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent."

This new controversy is surfacing as Hurricane Milton is strengthening into a Cat 4 and massive evacuations are now underway in Florida, which is still struggling from Hurricane Helene, as is much of the Southeast.  

But analysts say FEMA cannot tap unspent appropriations from long-ago crises, so the money sits frozen as 600 people are reportedly still missing from Hurricane Helene, at least 220 died, and entire towns were wiped off the map. Helene is the most catastrophic hurricane to hit the U.S. since Katrina in 2005.

Budget experts warn that this new firestorm shows that FEMA has been turned into a slush fund that the agency and the Biden-Harris White House can spend at will. 

An August 2024 report from Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General noted, "As of October 2022, FEMA estimated that 847 disaster declarations with approximately $73 billion in unliquidated funds remained open." The report also says "$8.3 billion in unliquidated obligations" was "for disasters declared in 2012 or earlier" that analysts say could be returned to help people battling for survival in disasters now. on billions 

 

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