The below is attributable to Spokesperson Rebecca Chalif:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power met with UN World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley to discuss worsening food insecurity around the world and shortfalls in funding needed to address urgent humanitarian crises, particularly in Afghanistan and Ethiopia.
During their meeting, Administrator Power thanked Executive Director Beasley for WFP’s efforts to quickly scale up food assistance and expand air bridge operations for humanitarian personnel in Afghanistan as well as its continued efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Ethiopians in dire need, as up to 900,000 people face famine-like conditions in the north, and the drought deepens across the south.
Administrator Power and Executive Director Beasley also discussed the importance of the ongoing partnership between USAID and WFP in the year ahead. They emphasized the increasing humanitarian needs around the world and the need for other donors to step up in order to enable a swift response to humanitarian crises.