Last October, at the direction of President Donald Trump, Vice President Pence announced a new policy to expand assistance to religious and ethnic minority communities in the Middle East devastated by ISIS and other terrorist organizations. In Northern Iraq - once home to large communities of Christians and other minorities, many of whom left their homes or fled the country altogether - USAID is committed to creating the conditions so that these communities can return safely to their ancestral lands.

We have already channeled tens of millions to the region, but we know the need is far greater, and that we must do more to meet the urgent needs of these endangered populations -- and we will. This month, I will travel to Iraq at the direction of the Vice President to meet with leaders of these suffering communities and report back with a plan of action to accelerate aid to those in greatest need.

The United States has a proud legacy of standing with vulnerable ethnic and religious minorities. Protecting people's right to choose their own beliefs and culture has been at the core of our nation's values since its founding. Indeed, this is a value I will continue to promote everyday around the world as the head of USAID. Good work is being done, but we will work even harder to accomplish exactly what the President and Vice President have directed.