‘A Matter of Life and Death’
USAID Administrator Power advocates for increased humanitarian aid in Gaza and regional stability
USAID Administrator Samantha Power traveled to Israel and the West Bank in late February to focus attention on the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza, advocate for greater protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and advance the U.S. commitment to long-term stability in the region.
The Administrator spoke with humanitarian workers about the unprecedented challenges in getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza — and into the hands of Palestinian civilians who are growing increasingly desperate.
The conflict in Gaza has had a devastating toll on humanitarian workers, with the highest number of deaths of UN workers of any conflict in history.
“The reports of the situation on the ground are among the worst that I have heard about in my career…Getting more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and making sure humanitarian workers can safely deliver it, is really a matter of life and death.” — Administrator Power
She then met with Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilding partners working under the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act, who described the difficulty of conducting peacebuilding initiatives during an active conflict.
Power shared her admiration for their determination to expand people-to-people ties and economic collaboration among Israelis and Palestinians, which are vital ingredients for long-term peace.
Power traveled to the Kerem Shalom border crossing, a key corridor for humanitarian assistance deliveries at the intersection of Egypt, Gaza, and Israel.
While there, she observed Israel’s inspection and screening processes for humanitarian cargo before entering Gaza, and stressed the need to expedite and substantially increase the flow of humanitarian aid.
She also called for the removal of the obstacles preventing or slowing assistance and establishing much stronger protections for humanitarians who are delivering life-saving aid.
“A core principle that must apply in Gaza — and everywhere in the world — is that desperate civilians trying to feed their starving families should not be harmed.” — Administrator Power
At Kibbutz Be’eri, situated on the Gaza periphery, Power heard from a member of the community who shared his devastating experience on Oct. 7.
Power offered her condolences for all those killed, injured, and taken hostage, and shared her appreciation for their ongoing commitment to peace despite the brutality they lived through.
She reiterated President Biden’s commitment to ensuring that an atrocity like Oct. 7 can never happen again.
During a meeting with Israeli Government officials, Power emphasized the urgent need for Israel to do more to protect innocent Palestinians and aid workers, given the unacceptable level of civilian casualties that Gazans have experienced since the start of the war.
Additionally, she advocated for urgent action to sustainably expand humanitarian access.
“USAID staff are trying to overcome every logistical obstacle to aid delivery as it arises, coordinating between our humanitarian partners and the Israeli government to try to prevent further attacks on civilian infrastructure and humanitarian aid workers.” — Administrator Power
On Feb. 29, Power traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank. She visited the Learning Center at the Youth Village in Kufr Neemeh, which was forced to shut down after being severely damaged by extremist settler violence.
Power condemned settler violence against Palestinians and reiterated the United States’ opposition to expanded settlements.
“I heard from Palestinians here in Ramallah, about how extremist settlers have destroyed community sites and forced people from their homes and have also heard again in significant detail about how the access and movement restrictions imposed by Israel have made it impossible for goods to move, and in many instances have ground economic activity to a halt.” — Administrator Power
Next, Power met with Palestinians from Gaza to hear directly how the Israel-Hamas war continues to inflict terrible suffering on their lives and families.
They shared stories of innocent family and friends who have been killed or injured by Israeli strikes in Gaza and their devastation at seeing their homes, hospitals, and schools destroyed.
“Every night, parents in Gaza are deciding where their children should sleep, how they should sleep, whether they will be able to sleep with hunger, but also they’re making decisions about how to separate their children so that all of their children are not in one place because of the risk of being killed in the night.”- Administrator Power
While in the West Bank, Power met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, where she conveyed the imperative of protecting civilians and aid workers in Gaza and the United States’ efforts to curb extremist settler violence in the West Bank.
She also emphasized the importance of the Palestinian Authority undertaking reforms to improve the dire fiscal situation and attract more donor funding.
“Civilians in the West Bank are also suffering greatly because of this war.” — Administrator Power
Throughout her visit, Power reiterated the United States’ long-standing commitment to supporting the Palestinian people to build thriving communities, promote inclusive development, and advance a two-state solution.
Under the Biden Administration alone, USAID has provided more than $530 million to support the Palestinian people. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the United States has committed more than $180 million in humanitarian assistance funding for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
“We know from all over the world that when demands for food, for water, for medicine…when demand so outpaces supply, we see desperation and we see chaos. And that is precisely why throughout my time here in the region, I have stressed again and again the pain and desperation that Gazans are feeling and that it is absolutely essential that we dramatically increase the flow of assistance of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” — Administrator Power
About the Authors
This blog was written by the Development Outreach and Communications Team for USAID’s Mission in the West Bank and Gaza.