For Immediate Release

Office of Press Relations
press@usaid.gov

Readout

The below is attributable to Acting Spokesperson Shejal Pulivarti:‎

Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director (ED) Cathy Russell, to discuss mobilizing commitments for the procurement and distribution of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF). Administrator Power and ED Russell discussed USAID’s recent announcement of an unprecedented $200 million to UNICEF to respond to the extraordinary needs in addressing severe malnutrition in children, which includes procurement of RUTF.  

RUTF is one of the most effective tools we have to help severely malnourished children – which USAID funds as a part of a comprehensive package to support the child, their family, and their community in an effort to save lives and improve child growth and development. 

As Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine has the potential to push as many as 40 million additional people into food insecurity and poverty, Administrator Power also recently issued a challenge to raise additional funds for critical efforts to address child wasting. She provided ED Russell with updates on how USAID is actively engaging with key donor countries and private philanthropies to rally support so that we can meet the urgent needs of children facing severe malnutrition globally. She encouraged UNICEF to continue to leverage its convening power to mobilize support, and expressed the Agency’s commitment to continued partnership to increase awareness of and financing for critical wasting treatment.

READ MORE

USAID’s Global Food Security Response

Samantha Power 2022 Global Food Crisis
Share This Page