COVID-19
Speeches Shim
Once again, the scientific community has delivered an urgent call to action for our planet. The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is ominous, but it makes clear that limiting global warming and avoiding the worst case scenarios of the climate crisis remains possible if we rapidly reduce global emissions this decade. Critically, the IPCC shows that we already have all the options we need—in every sector—to cut global emissions in half by 2030.
On April 1, 2022, Administrator Power met with Bono, cofounder of ONE and (RED), to discuss the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
On April 2, Administrator Power spoke with Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna about the humanitarian crisis caused by Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.
Today, Administrator Power met with Maria Ressa, IFPIM Co-chair and 2021 Nobel Peace Laureate and Colin Crowell, IFPIM U.S. Representative. During the meeting, Administrator Power, Ms. Ressa, and Mr. Cowell discussed how best to support and protect independent media actors, particularly in light of increasing threats to reporters who expose corruption and wrongdoing, as well as a rapidly changing media environment that has undermined traditional funding models for journalism.
Today, Administrator Power met with James Cleverly, Minister of State for Europe and North America of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). The Administrator and Minister Cleverly discussed the need to further scale up the United Nations’ assistance to and engagements with the Government of Ukraine. They discussed the need for expanded global funding for development and humanitarian assistance and expressed particular concern about the impact of Putin’s war in Ukraine on global food security and nutrition, particularly in the places like Yemen and the Horn of Africa that were already experiencing dire food insecurity.
On April 1, 2022, Administrator Samantha Power met with Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Vincent Biruta to discuss the development partnership that the U.S. and Rwanda have built over the last few decades. The two discussed efforts to combat COVID-19, on which Rwanda has made tremendous progress, fully vaccinating 62% of its people, as well as opportunities to further cooperate on addressing climate change and food security. Administrator Power reinforced the U.S. government’s concerns over Rwanda’s slow progress in promoting respect for human rights for all of its citizens.
Today, U.S. Agency for International Development Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman met with Israel's Minister of Regional Cooperation Issawi Frej. Deputy Administrator Coleman shared her observations from her recent trip to Israel and the West Bank and reinforced USAID’s commitment to advancing and deepening international development cooperation with Israel.
This week, two humanitarian convoys from U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partner UN World Food Program (WFP) transported emergency food aid to the Tigray and Afar regions of northern Ethiopia, including the first convoy to Tigray in more than three and a half months. This emergency food aid will support more than 100,000 people in northern Ethiopia. The arrival of the convoys is an important development in the effort to provide life-saving assistance to the people of Tigray and Afar, as only road transport can deliver the scale of assistance needed across northern Ethiopia. USAID commends the federal and regional Ethiopian authorities, as well as local communities, which worked together to make this first step possible. USAID urges all parties to ensure sustained and significant access for the delivery of life-saving assistance in these regions, as well as the neighboring Amhara region.
On April 5-7, Administrator Power will travel to the Slovak Republic and Moldova to see firsthand the impact the Russian Federation’s brutal war in Ukraine is having on civilians forced to flee, and to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to support nations on the frontlines of the humanitarian response.
The U.S. government is moving forward in the spirit of partnership with four countries and a regional grouping of countries to implement the ten-year U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. This represents an important milestone and next step in the realization of the goals of the landmark Global Fragility Act, which continues to enjoy strong bipartisan Congressional support for innovative efforts to foster a more peaceful and stable world. In light of the horrific events unfolding in Ukraine caused by Putin’s unprovoked and brutal war, the United States reaffirms its commitment to strengthen global resiliency and democratic renewal, and promote peaceful, self-reliant nations that become U.S. economic and security partners.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Michael Holness in Washington, DC. During the meeting, Administrator Power and Prime Minister Holness celebrated 60 years of development cooperation between the United States and Jamaica and discussed ways to further deepen bilateral relations.
Today at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Kingdom, Germany, and Qatar-hosted virtual pledging conference, the United States announced it is providing nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. This funding includes over $70 million through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and continues America’s enduring support of the Afghan people, bringing the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan to more than $4.6 billion since 2002, the largest amount of assistance from any country.
Nearly a year ago, President Biden announced that the United States would be the “arsenal of vaccines for the world,” just as America served as an arsenal for democracies during World War II. With the president’s leadership and the consistent bipartisan support of Congress, the United States has delivered more than half a billion coronavirus vaccines to 114 lower-income countries free of charge, a historic accomplishment. This example spurred contributions from other wealthy nations and contributed to vaccination of almost 60 percent of the world.
Yesterday, Administrator Samantha Power met with Hailemariam Dessalegn, Board Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Administrator Power and Chair Dessalegn discussed how AGRA can respond to current food crises and partner for more sustainable, equitable food systems.
Yesterday, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman met with five members of Ukraine’s Parliament to discuss the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine including delegation chair Lesia Zaburanna, Yevheniia Kravchuk, Anastasiia Radina, Mariia Ionova, and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova and Embassy Counselor Andriy Tsymbaliuk also joined the meeting.
Today, the United States announced more than $152 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, including support for those affected by ongoing violence in Burma, refugees from Burma in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi host communities. This funding includes more than $101 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and nearly $51 million from the U.S. Department of State. It brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to the crisis to more than $1.7 billion since August 2017.
On March 23, USAID Deputy Administrator Coleman arrived in Tbilisi to convey USAID’s commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity and ongoing support for the Georgian people as they cope with the severe impact of Russia’s aggression on their security, economy and democratic aspirations. The United States and Georgia marked thirty years of diplomatic partnership last week. She had a series of high-level meetings with Georgian government officials, including Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President Salome Zourabichvili, and Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili. The Deputy Administrator discussed Georgia’s democratic reform agenda and conveyed appreciation for Georgia’s support for Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes $60.4 billion for the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Within this request, $29.4 billion is included for accounts that USAID will fully or partially manage, and will continue to directly support the President’s vision of restoring America’s leadership around the globe.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing more than $195 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of South Sudan, who continue to experience the devastating effects of violence, food insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and successive years of widespread flooding. Approximately 8.9 million people, more than two-thirds of the country’s population, will require humanitarian assistance this year, an increase of 600,000 since 2021.
Today, Administrator Samantha Power participated in a virtual roundtable with members of the Syrian diaspora, including the American Coalition for Syria (ACS) and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). During the discussion, Administrator Power remarked on the significance of the Syrian conflict entering its eleventh year without a resolution and reinforced the United States’ commitment to alleviating human suffering for the Syrian people.
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Last updated: July 11, 2024
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