SAIPAN — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the CNMI Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program and related disaster nutrition relief measures in response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs announced Tuesday.
The approval authorizes the CNMI Nutrition Assistance Program to provide temporary food assistance to eligible residents affected by the disaster and to implement additional support measures for families recovering from the storm.
Under the approved plan, current NAP households will receive the maximum monthly allotment plus an additional 20 percent supplement for up to six months. Households not currently participating in NAP but impacted by the typhoon may qualify for D-NAP benefits of up to two months of disaster food assistance.
The release states that USDA’s Food and Nutrition Administration has established additional fiscal and program integrity safeguards as part of the approval. During territorial monitoring of D-NAP operations, the federal agency will review program compliance, oversight activities and fiscal accountability measures, and retains the authority to approve or deny issuance of the second month of D-NAP benefits based on those reviews.
“We are grateful to USDA Food and Nutrition Administration for its partnership and support of the CNMI during this time of recovery,” said Gov. David M. Apatang. “This approval will help ensure that affected individuals and families have access to the food assistance they need while our communities continue rebuilding from the impacts of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.”
NAP is preparing for D-NAP implementation and will announce application dates, locations, eligibility requirements and other program details through official public notices and community outreach, according to the release.
D-NAP is a federally funded disaster program that provides temporary food benefits to households that may not normally qualify for ongoing nutrition assistance but experienced disaster-related hardships. The department extended its appreciation to USDA, Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds and CNMI NAP staff.