U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton traveled to Tunisia on March 17, 2011 to donate the first of two ambulances to the Tunisian Red Crescent Volunteer Training Center.

U.S. Africa Command's Humanitarian Assistance office, along with U.S. Air Forces Africa, funded the $150,000 purchase and retrofitting of the two ambulances and other emergency relief supplies for the Red Crescent.

While in Tunisia, Clinton met with Dr. Tahar Cheniti, secretary general of the Red Crescent, and other officials and volunteers who had been working around-the-clock for the past several weeks at the Tunisia-Libya border to provide humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing the violence in Libya.

Clinton praised the work of the Tunisian Red Crescent. Commenting on Tunisia's remarkable response to the crisis, she said, "The United States is very proud to be your partner, to help with this center, to help with the ambulance and the training for the Red Crescent." The Secretary also learned about the Red Crescent's efforts to bring assistance to underserved areas of Tunisia, particularly those most affected by the violent Jasmine Revolution.

The Red Crescent Volunteer Training Center, constructed using $315,000 in Humanitarian Assistance (HA) funding, opened in 2009 and has significantly enhanced the Red Crescent's ability to train volunteers for critical emergency and disaster response. Dr. Brahim El Gharbi, president of the Tunisian Red Crescent, thanked Clinton for the support of the U.S. government and expressed his desire to further the partnership.

See also:

TRANSCRIPT of remarks at Tunisia Red Crescent Training Center.

AFRICOM Supports U.S. and International Response to Libya Crisis.

TRANSCRIPT: U.S. Secretary of State Clinton Speaks at U.S. Embassy, Tunis

TRANSCRIPT: U.S. Secretary of State Clinton Meets with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mouldi Kefi