Washington, 16 September 1997 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. Peace Corps is sending seven volunteers to the Czech Republic today to aid in flood-relief efforts.
U.S. Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan swore-in the volunteers this morning at a special ceremony at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington.
Gearan said all of the volunteers had previously served in the Czech Republic and were fluent in Czech and familiar with the culture, customs and landscape of the country.
In early July, torrential rains fell in the eastern part of the Czech Republic and southern Poland, causing the worst flooding in the region in more than a century.
The volunteers will be in the Czech Republic for three months and will act as resource specialists, working with local officials to help plan reconstruction activities.