The Homeland Security Department said on Tuesday it would distribute a total of 765 million U.S. dollars to a number of cities under a urban security plan on the basis of risks for the fiscal year of 2006.

The money, 90 million dollars less than last year, would be provided to select high threat urban areas, as part of the fiscal year 2006 Urban Areas Security Initiative, for equipment, training, planning, and exercise needs.

Thirty-five areas were identified eligible to apply for and receive the funding for 2006, encompassing 95 cities each with a population of 100,000 or more. Of the 35 areas in 29 states and the District of Columbia, 11 received money under the initiative in 2005.

Some of the areas eligible included Washington, D.C., Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Miami, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Boston, Detroit, Las Vegas, Dallas and Philadelphia.

Communities facing the greatest risk and demonstrating the greatest need would receive "the highest return in our nation's security," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

The department would continue to champion funding on the basis of risk and need, he said.

The grants generally went to the country's 50 largest cities in the past years for terror-related security measures. Cities facing risks of natural disasters or health crises would also be eligible this year.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the United States has spent 8.6 billion dollars in overall grant funding to states and territories against terrorism.

Source: Xinhua