Description
Item Description:Title from page 1 screen (GAO, viewed Dec. 6, 2009).
"December 3, 2009."
Violence along the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated in recent years because of drug trafficking and related organized crime activities, with over 12,000 fatalities since 2006. At the same time, gang activity in Central America has increased, further fueling the violence within the region. In an effort to confront the challenges posed by criminal violence, in October 2007, the United States and Mexico announced the Mérida Initiative, a $1.4 billion counternarcotics and anticrime assistance package for countries in the region. The Mérida Initiative brings a shift in both scale and scope to U.S. assistance to the region, particularly Mexico. Similarly, collaboration between the United States and Mexico has intensified, providing an unprecedented opportunity to address the mutual threat of drug trafficking and organized crime affecting the region. In response to your concerns regarding the pace of assistance, we are providing information on the status of funding provided under the Mérida Initiative as of September 30, 2009. Specifically, we describe how much has been appropriated, obligated, and expended. We also identify factors affecting the delivery of major equipment, services, and training; and we provide a timeline of key events related to the initiative. On the basis of your request, we are also conducting a more comprehensive programmatic review of the Mérida Initiative to be completed in the summer of 2010.
"GAO-10-253R."
Electronic resource.
Physical Description:1 online resource (29 pages) : color illustrations, color map.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references.