By Admin1 (admin) (76.213.146.106) on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 3:27 pm: Edit Post |
Peace Corps Volunteers in Mauritania are Safe
This morning former Mauritanian top generals and military units staged a coup, seizing power from President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi as well as the Prime Minister of Mauritania. The overall situation in Mauritania is now calm. All 154 Volunteers and trainees are confirmed safe and are in stand-fast mode. Peace Corps staff in Mauritania remains in regular communication with Volunteers in the regions. Volunteers remain in good spirits and are maintaining a very professional attitude, and trainees are maintaining their training schedule. The U.S. Embassy and Peace Corps continue to monitor the situation closely. The Peace Corps staff in Washington is also in constant communication with the staff at post, the U.S. Embassy, and the State Department. The U.S. Embassy and Peace Corps offices in Nouakchott remain open.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Mauritania are Safe
Peace Corps Volunteers in Mauritania are Safe
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 6, 2008 - Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter announced today that all Volunteers and trainees serving in Mauritania are accounted for and safe.
This morning former Mauritanian top generals and military units staged a coup, seizing power from President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi as well as the Prime Minister of Mauritania. The overall situation in Mauritania is now calm.
All 154 Volunteers and trainees are confirmed safe and are in stand-fast mode. Peace Corps staff in Mauritania remains in regular communication with Volunteers in the regions. Volunteers remain in good spirits and are maintaining a very professional attitude, and trainees are maintaining their training schedule.
The U.S. Embassy and Peace Corps continue to monitor the situation closely. The Peace Corps staff in Washington is also in constant communication with the staff at post, the U.S. Embassy, and the State Department. The U.S. Embassy and Peace Corps offices in Nouakchott remain open.
Each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with Peace Corps Washington and the local U.S. Embassy. The plans are evaluated and tested frequently and information is updated constantly. Volunteers are thoroughly trained in their roles and responsibilities, and posts are prepared for all emergencies.
Families may contact the Peace Corps' Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. Special Services maintains a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-638-2574. The Office of Special Services can also be contacted via e-mail at ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov.
Since 1967, the Peace Corps has sent more than 1,200 Volunteers to the western African country of Mauritania. Volunteers strive to increase agricultural production, encourage reforestation and dune stabilization, execute health care, supply clean water, and develop formal and informal business sectors. Volunteers are also working in the areas of education and environmental preservation, as well as projects dealing with girls' education and information technology.
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Headlines: August, 2008; Peace Corps Mauritania; Directory of Mauritania RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mauritania RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers
When this story was posted in August 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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