Pristina, May 22, 2020 – The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $500,000 to support Kosovo’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, USAID has committed nearly $1.6 million to support Kosovo’s response to COVID-19.  

Since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Kosovo on March 13, 2020, USAID’s assistance has focused on supporting frontline workers and communities to slow the spread, caring for those affected, and equipping people with the tools needed to fight back against COVID-19.  For example, USAID has distributed 239 hygiene kits to health centers, 8,950 family kits and 1,200 kits for children throughout 38 Kosovo municipalities.

The fight against COVID-19 is not over, and this additional assistance from the American people will provide continued operational support and increase Kosovo’s capability to stop further transmission and mitigate COVID-19’s impact. 

The United States has invested more than $772 million in total assistance for Kosovo over the past 20 years.

For more than a half century, the United States has been the largest contributor to global health security and humanitarian assistance. We were on the front lines in the fight against Ebola, we support countries in their battles against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious diseases, and we will lead the global response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the U.S. Government has committed more than $900 million in assistance specifically aimed at fighting the pandemic. This funding will save lives by improving public health education, protecting healthcare workers, and strengthening laboratory systems, increasing disease-surveillance, and rapid-response capacity in more than 120 countries around the world.