Newsroom

Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with members of the Lebanese diaspora community, in a forum hosted by the American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), to share observations and discuss USAID’s ongoing efforts in Lebanon following her recent visit to the country. Edward M. Gabriel, former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco and current President and CEO of ATFL moderated the virtual discussion.

Well, it’s no secret here and it’s no secret around the world, how difficult times have been for the Lebanese people lately, especially with the electricity blackouts, the fuel prices, the food prices. I want to show solidarity, and to show up and say and show that America cares.

I’ve had a packed and weighty few days here in Lebanon. I traveled to the Beqaa to speak to farmers and herders beset by the grave economic crisis. There, I announced the U.S. would contribute an additional $72 million in emergency food assistance through the World Food Programme, and that should support more than 650,000 people in need. 

Today in Beirut, Administrator Samantha Power announced USAID will provide $50 million for Lebanese and refugee students living in the country to attend the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanese American University (LAU), and Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU).

I'm really struck, already, in my interactions on the campus with you and in hearing from Regina and Antonio – just the spirit of service that one can feel here on this campus. When I'm not serving in the U.S. government myself, I'm a professor at the Kennedy School of Government, the Kennedy School of Public Service at Harvard University, and so feel very privileged myself to be engaging year to year with students who are in the United States dedicated to this service. But I feel it here, just as palpably there. And of course, the set of challenges that the Lebanese people are facing right now makes this calling that so many of you feel to give back and to make your country better, just so, so very important.

Today, Administrator Samantha Power concluded her multi-day visit to Lebanon with a series of meetings and events in Beirut. Administrator Power began her day by meeting with U.S. Embassy and USAID employees. She thanked them for their dedication and work advancing the United States’ relationship with Lebanon, their support for the Lebanese people in a period of crisis, and the recent accomplishment of finalizing the agreement establishing a permanent Israel-Lebanon maritime boundary.