You also are aware that, in addition to the camps, there are tens of thousands of refugees being housed in homes in Macedonia and Albania by people who've taken those refugees in. Oftentimes, 20, 30 people living in one room. And those host families are also stretched to breaking point.
To help the people of Kosovo rebuild their lives, we know we have to work as a team at every level of government, in international relief agencies and other charitable organizations, in our businesses, our houses of worship and our communities.
Since the violence began, the United States has contributed more than $150 million in humanitarian aid including blankets, tents, water jugs and enough food to feed three quarters of a million people. A few weeks ago, I went to Dover Air Force Base and saw the service men and women who have literally been working around the clock loading the food onto pallets to be transported to reach the people of Kosovo.
: This week the president called on Congress to pass his $6 ion proposal for an emergency aid package which includes nearly $800 million in humanitarian assistance.
The American people, as is the case when events like this occur, have responded with an outpouring of generosity and support. Here at the White House we are flooded with countless calls, letters and e- mails from people who want to know how to help. A woman from Indiana wrote asking whether there was anything the mothers of this country could do to help the mothers of Kosovo.
And another woman from Florida wrote we are so blessed in our beloved country and I really believe that the majority of Americans would like to help in some way, but don't really know how. Well there are ways for everyone to help.
USAID and FEMA are working together to make sure that Americans can do our part through a toll-free number, 800-USAID-RELIEF and the website
www.info.USAID.gov. under the Kosovo listin
