September 24, 2020: The U.S. Embassy in Mauritius and Seychelles and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) have donated oil spill personal protective equipment valued at $15,000 or 600,000 Rupees to the Mauritius Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. This equipment includes 700 waterproof coveralls and 2,664 heavy duty chemical resistant gloves that will be used in the ongoing oil spill cleanup and help replenish the Ministry’s inventory. This donation is part of AFRICOM’s humanitarian assistance and complements technical assistance provided by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“The United States has a strong security partnership with Mauritius focused on strengthening coastal and maritime security capabilities” said U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission to Mauritius and Seychelles Judes DeBaere. “This donation helps protect our Mauritian partners during ongoing cleanup efforts.”
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Kohlmann, who leads Overseas Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy, added, “In addition to collaborative military exercises, training and military-to-military events, AFRICOM is committed to helping Mauritius respond to environmental emergencies such as the recent oil spill.”
The U.S. government through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also provided scientific and technical assistance. This included monitoring and processing imagery to produce a time series of the impacted area. U.S. Embassy staff have also volunteered in oil spill cleanup initiatives and understand the importance of personal protective equipment.
Contact:
Public Affairs Officer | U.S. Embassy | VonMertensN@state.gov | +230 5253-6845
