On Thursday, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with the Head of Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Major General Ghassan Alian.
Administrator Power expressed her condolences for the deaths of the six hostages brutally murdered by Hamas last week.
Administrator Power and Major General Alian discussed ongoing challenges impacting the safe and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid within Gaza, including challenges related to insecurity, road closures, and checkpoints. Administrator Power emphasized the U.S. government's alarm about security incidents impacting humanitarian organizations in recent weeks and the need to rapidly investigate and share findings. They discussed immediate actions that can be taken to improve the operation of the Joint Coordination Board, a mechanism, supported by the United States, designed to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza through greater dialogue between humanitarian organizations and the Israeli government. Administrator Power and Major General Alian talked about specific steps to strengthen deconfliction mechanisms, promote greater accountability, and prevent further incidents that endanger humanitarian workers.
In their conversation, Administrator Power and Major General Alian also discussed the ongoing polio vaccination campaign, led by the World Health Organization. Administrator Power noted the constructive engagement between COGAT and UN partners on this effort, and shared that USAID was encouraged by the progress up to this point.
