The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:
On March 15, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Martin Griffiths about the worsening humanitarian crises in Burkina Faso, Sudan, and Gaza. Administrator Power and ERC Griffiths discussed the dire food security situation in Burkina Faso and the obstacles to deliver humanitarian aid to Burkinabé, including in blockaded communities at risk of famine. Administrator Power emphasized the need for strong UN leadership of the humanitarian response.
On Sudan, Administrator Power emphasized the importance of close U.S.-UN cooperation to prevent a looming famine. Administrator Power and ERC Griffiths discussed the dramatic impact of the Sudanese Armed Forces’s decision to close the border crossing from Adre, Chad, into Darfur, where another humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding. Additionally, they discussed the urgency of establishing direct, UN-brokered talks on humanitarian access between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
On Gaza, Administrator Power and ERC Griffiths discussed the possibility of famine in northern Gaza. The Administrator talked about her recent trip to Israel, where she spoke with Israeli officials about the need to do more to facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and to improve deconfliction efforts so that aid workers can continue to deliver lifesaving assistance. They also discussed the maritime corridor announced by the U.S. government, which, in coordination with international partners, will scale up the amount of lifesaving assistance getting into Gaza. Administrator Power reiterated that not enough aid is getting in, and that the maritime route and airdrops are meant to augment, not replace, efforts to address the urgent need to increase land routes into Gaza.