U.S. to Give Nations $174 Million for Virus Aid - But No Masks

(Bloomberg) --

The Trump administration announced $174 million in additional aid to help countries most at risk from the coronavirus pandemic but made clear the assistance won’t include protective equipment that U.S. hospitals have struggled to obtain.

The new money is $110 million for international disaster assistance and $64 million going to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday. That’s in addition to $100 million in aid that he announced as the coronavirus spread around the globe in recent weeks.

Pompeo described the money as an “initial investment” in the fight against the virus and said that the U.S. “is leading -- and will continue to lead -- the effort to combat this dangerous pathogen.” That appeared to be a pointed reference aimed at countering Chinese government messaging that it’s helping spearhead a global response.

Officials who briefed reporters on the assistance said it would go to countries for food security, water, livelihood assistance and other categories. Not included will be items that are seeing critical shortages in the U.S., such as medical-grade masks and protective gear for health-care workers.

“We can’t give them everything they’re looking for,” said Jim Richardson, the State Department’s director of foreign assistance resources. “As a general principle, where there are shortages of critical medical supplies in the U.S., we can’t provide that assistance.”

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