WASHINGTON, D.C., March 9, 2000—All Peace Corps volunteers serving in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, and South Africa are safe and accounted for following the cyclone which struck the region in late February. In Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and South Africa, the Peace Corps staff has temporarily moved those volunteers whose sites were hit hard by flooding to nearby cities. Some volunteers have already returned to their sites. The Peace Corps expects that others will be able to return to their sites soon.
In the next several weeks, the Peace Corps will explore opportunities to contribute to reconstruction activities in the affected countries. Former Peace Corps volunteers who may be available for short term assignments and who have experience in southern Africa or strong Portuguese language skills may qualify as Crisis Corps volunteers.
The Crisis Corps program is open to Peace Corps volunteers who are completing their assignments and to former Peace Corps volunteers. Crisis Corps Volunteers provide short-term assistance in disaster relief and humanitarian response efforts. The assignments generally run from three to six months. Contact the Crisis Corps for additional information: (800) 424-8580, extension 2250.