WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has topped off overseas emergency caches to help cope with crises that could be sparked by the Year 2000 computer glitch, a senior official said Thursday.

``Strategically located stockpiles of food, blankets and emergency supplies are at capacity level,'' Richard Nygard of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) told the House Committee on International Relations.

USAID, which responds to humanitarian crises, has been nudging United Nations agencies and U.S. private groups to prepare for worst-case scenarios, though they are already stretched thin worldwide, he said.

``The uncertain impact of Y2K could place major additional demands on our agency and on other donors of humanitarian aid,'' said Nygard, USAID's chief information officer.

In separate testimony the national intelligence officer for science and technology reiterated the U.S. assessment that Russia, Ukraine, China and Indonesia were among the ``major countries most likely to experience significant Y2K-related failures.''

Y2K is short for the design flaw that may scramble unprepared computers and the operations they control on Jan. 1, when they may mistake 2000 for 1900.

Lawrence Gershwin of the Central Intelligence Agency said Y2K could cause ``widespread, possibly prolonged disruptions in vital services that could have serious humanitarian and economic consequences'' in ill-prepared lands.

``Countries in Western Europe are generally better prepared, although we see the chance of some significant failures in countries such as Italy,'' he testified.

Few governments outside the West would be capable of managing humanitarian crises triggered by possible breakdowns of basic infrastructure, especially in urban areas, Gershwin said.

``Y2K failures will occur before and as the date rollover approaches, peaking on 1 January and persisting well beyond that,'' he said. ``In some countries, such as Russia, it will likely take a significant amount of time to overcome Y2K failures.''

John O'Keefe, the State Department's top Y2K trouble-shooter , said a key concern was the possible loss of electricity in places like Eastern and Central Europe at the height of winter.

Replying to a question from committee chairman Rep. Ben Gilman, Republican of New York, O'Keefe said the State Department had spent about $6 million for emergency generators for overseas U.S. diplomatic posts.

Another $1 million had been earmarked for diesel fuel so they could operate for up to 15 days if local power grids failed, he said.

USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance provided 780,000 metric tons of emergency food aid to more than 11.5 million people in 28 countries in 1997, according to the agency's internal watchdog.

But the foreign disaster office itself has neither developed nor tested contingency plans to cope with possible Y2K-related disruption of its own ability to do business, Theodore Alvarez, director of technology audits, testified.

The lack of backup plans would limit USAID's ability to provide humanitarian aid and development assistance if caught in a Y2K crunch of its own, he testified.

Meanwhile, in Nairobi, government Y2K coordinators from 27 African nations called for urgent help from abroad to underwrite their 2000 readiness programs, the U.N.-backed International Y2K Cooperation Center reported.

Here's the link: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991021/ts/yk_usa_1.html

-- Anonymous, October 28, 1999

Answers

Missions Committees need to keep their focus on core business. The world is in the midst of a sin crisis that is real. People are dying by the million without Christ! Shame on those who fill warehouses with food and shortchange the support of those who seek to go out for the sake of Christ's kingdom. Humanitarian relief is an act of true religion and should be practised to the praise of God's glory. The expenditure of precious kingdom resources on a unfounded and baseless fear is shameful. Let us send resources to places where famine truely exists. If your Missions Committee wants to help needy people contact those you already support and ask what they need or go to groups like I.D.E.S. if you want a humanitarian project.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 1999

Shame on those who answer posts hastily without understanding their intent. Did you read the article? It is pointing out that Federal Humanitarian efforts are INCREASING in order to prepare third world countries, because we KNOW they will be hit the hardest, even though their infrastructure is less dependent on computers. Therefore, if the Feds are beefing up THEIR support, it is suggested that WE beef up our support to our missionaries.

That is their CORE business. That is the humanitarian relief I was referring to, which you correctly point out is true religion. What it means is that we are sending 3 months worth of missionary money IN ADVANCE, so that they can be better prepared.

You are on the wrong rabbit trail here, Bob. If you have venom for the survivalists, fine. Go find them and tell them you're in denial.... We're talking about something else here. As for "unfounded and baseless" fears, well, you need to get your head out of the sand and join the rest of the real world. Business and Government has spent 300 billion dollars so far to correct mainframe design flaws, (which you say are unfounded? Please go on Nightline and share your special revelation with the rest of mankind! LOL!), and admit that they are still behind. The American Red Cross is suggesting that every American family "stockpile" 3 weeks worth of food and water. So re-read the original post.

Here is an email I received from a missionary in Africa:

Hi Duane and Teresa--thanks for the stuff you have sent. most of it is usually good for a laugh. thanks! but not this one (for laughing, that is). our mission has issued quite an extensive y2k contingency plan that we are supposed to follow, including 2 month stocks on mostly everything: money, fuel of all kinds, water!!??, imported food, etc. It is actually a bit overwhelming to me but we'll try. may God help us. we are just this month asking for extra help from our supporters for the next few months so we can prepare as we have been instructed to do. we will be considered irresponsible if we don't. well...anyway, thanks for this bit. and thanks for keeping in touch. we'll try to do better. Love in Christ, Susan Answered by Jim and Susan Farmer (Jfarmer@maf.org)

-- Anonymous, October 28, 1999