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Peace Corps Suspends Volunteer Program in Guinea

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 20, 2009 Peace Corps has suspended its volunteer program in Guinea due to ongoing safety and security concerns related to recent political instability. All 94 Peace Corps/Guinea volunteers are safe and accounted for and are currently participating in a conference in Mali.

Peace Corps will make every effort to transfer eligible Peace Corps/Guinea volunteers to other countries to continue their service. The volunteers may also elect to return to the U.S.

Both Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in Conakry will continue to monitor and assess the safety and security situation in Guinea in preparation for a return of Peace Corps Volunteers as soon as possible.

The nation of Guinea has been a longtime valued partner of the Peace Corps. To date, over 1,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Guinea since the program was established in 1962. Peace Corps volunteers in Guinea worked in the areas of secondary education (math, physics, chemistry, and English); public health; natural resource management (agroforestry); and small business development.

Each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. 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 of volunteers are encouraged to contact Peace Corps Office of Special Services with any questions or concerns they may have. The Office of Special Services maintains a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week duty system, and can be reached at 800.424.8580 (select 2, then 1, then ext. 1470) or 202.692.1470.