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Speeches Shim
On September 25, Secretary Pompeo announced in New York nearly $119 million in additional humanitarian assistance to further demonstrate the United States’ commitment and solidarity with the Venezuelan people and the region in response to the Maduro-made Venezuela crisis. This amount includes nearly $36 million for life-saving aid inside Venezuela.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green met on September 23, 2019, with Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
As Deputy Secretary Sullivan said, the United States is committed to helping expand economic growth and opportunity across Africa. Today, about 60% of Africa's 1.2 billion people are under 25. A decade from now, there will be around 320 million Africans between the ages of 15 and 24. A whole generation of young men and women with big dreams, eager for the opportunity to make their own way. The challenge of our generation is to ensure that the opportunities are there.
So I thought I would take a few moments to update you on some of the highlights from USAID meetings this week. As you know, at USAID we believe the purpose of foreign assistance is to end the need for its existence. And we believe that our job is to work with countries on their journey to self-reliance. There is plenty of work to do all around as we support the world’s most vulnerable populations that are affected by humanitarian crises, promote human rights, democracy, citizen-responsive governance, and improve development outcomes in the areas of economic growth, education, and environment, and health worldwide.
We've just had a wonderful conversation; Ambassador Vecchio, myself, and the rest of the delegation. I've been impressed with their leadership since we first met back in January. In the meeting today, I was able to give them the great news that I'm announcing $52 million in new funding from USAID to support the interim government and the people of Venezuela as they seek to restore citizen responsive, democratic governance and repair the provision of health services in their country. USAID, and the Trump Administration more largely, fully support the interim government of Juan Guaidó to democratically elected National Assembly and the Venezuelan people as they work to end the illegitimate Maduro regime. The people of Venezuela have suffered enough in these long years and it is time for the country to enjoy peace and prosperity under a democratically elected government.
For many years, development agencies acted as though they were the only legitimate drivers of progress. And when you think about it, it made some sense. Our partner countries were still emerging from communism and colonialism and they had tremendous needs. And so we stepped forward with material assistance: food, medicine, books, buildings. Or we lent people, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers. And we did it, in part, because if we didn't, who would?
Today in New York, the United States announced more than $127 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and internally displaced Rohingya and members of other affected communities in Burma. This funding will help address the emergency needs of some of the more than 900,000 refugees in Bangladesh, many of whom are Rohingya women and children from Rakhine State, Burma, as well as the related needs of Bangladeshi host communities. This funding will also provide life-saving assistance to internally displaced persons, including Rohingya, and members of other affected communities in Burma, including those affected by the fighting between the Burmese military and the Arakan Army.
Today, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green, while standing alongside Venezuelan lawmakers, human-rights activists, and the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, announced $52 million in development assistance to help Venezuela's Interim President Juan Guaido, his government, and the Venezuelan people as they seek to restore citizen-responsive, democratic governance to their country.
On September 23, 2019, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green met with His Excellency Abdalla Hamdok, Ph.D., Prime Minister of the Republic of Sudan, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Administrator Green welcomed Dr. Hamdok on his first visit to the United States as the new Prime Minister of Sudan, and as his country's first civilian Head of Government in 30 years. The Administrator assured Dr. Hamdok that the United States remains committed to stand alongside the people of Sudan during this time of enormous opportunity, as they work to achieve their dreams of an open, inclusive, and democratic society.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Brock Bierman will travel to Bulgaria, Romania, and Belgium, September 24-October 4.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green announced new financial assistance as part of the effort by the U.S. Government, announced by Vice President Mike Pence, to support ethnic and religious minorities displaced by the genocide perpetrated by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). USAID awarded this funding to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and The Solidarity Fund Poland.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green will travel to New York City, from September 23-27, 2019 to participate in the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Administrator Green will meet with bilateral and multilateral partners to discuss the journey to self-reliance, private-sector engagement through a new collaboration ethic, and other development and humanitarian assistance priorities.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green met today with Moldovan Prime Minister Maia Sandu. Administrator Green reaffirmed USAID's support for the Moldovan people and announced new investments to bolster the reform agenda of the Moldovan Government. Administrator Green expressed his hope that the Government of Moldova will capitalize on the nation's optimism and resolve to implement the systemic changes needed to ensure a prosperous, democratic, self-reliant future for Moldova.
On September 19, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green met with the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Elhadj As Sy. In the meeting, Administrator Green and the Secretary-General spoke about how the IFRC and National Societies are helping local communities to address crises, particularly the mass migration from the chaos in Venezuela and the response to the current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Administrator also praised the IFRC’s rapid assistance in The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.
Today marks the start of Feed the Future Week, a week-long event that highlights the progress and potential for the world to end global hunger. The U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative also announced the launch of its 2019 Annual Report with data on its global results.
Today, UPS (United Parcel Service) airlifted more than six metric tons of supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to The Bahamas to support the acute humanitarian needs of the people impacted by Hurricane Dorian. This generous transportation gift from UPS marks the first time USAID has coordinated on a humanitarian flight with the company.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Counselor Chris Milligan announced yesterday at an event that marked the fifth anniversary of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014 the appointment of Jennifer Mack as the USAID Global Water Coordinator. This position required by the Water for the World Act, guides, oversees, and directs USAID's investments related to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and water.
On the government side, as the world’s single-largest humanitarian donor, the United States Government has responded to the request for assistance from the Bahamian Government and has been providing life-saving assistance to address acute humanitarian needs. On Sunday, I myself visited Abaco and met with the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team – or DART, as we call it – which is leading our government’s humanitarian response in the Bahamas. There are now more than 100 members of that DART on the ground in the Bahamas. This team on the ground is providing urgently needed aid, including basic food, shelter, and health support. USAID is working across the interagency, including with Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Coast Guard for logistical support and to augment search-and-rescue operations.
Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green announced that the United States is providing nearly $4 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help people in The Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian, which brings the total U.S. funding for this response to more than $10 million to date.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance Tim Ziemer is traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda as part of a U.S. government delegation led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
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