Administrator Samantha Power Meets with Doctors from MSF, MedGlobal, and MAP

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:‎

On March 22, Administrator Samantha Power met with doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), MedGlobal, and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), many of whom recently returned from providing emergency medical care to civilians in Gaza. They discussed the range of challenges faced by doctors and medical staff working in Gaza, including the lack of sufficient medical supplies and medicines, much of which has been denied entry into Gaza due to ongoing restrictions to aid delivery and administrative barriers. The MSF, MedGlobal, and MAP physicians described the significant difficulties of providing proper medical care and treating life-threatening injuries in Gaza, including for children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic medical conditions. Administrator Power emphasized USAID's continued support for the health sector, which includes efforts to increase access to and availability of health and nutrition services, as well as assistance for a USAID-funded field hospital. Administrator Power expressed her appreciation for the life-saving work of doctors and medical staff operating in Gaza, and discussed the serious concerns of the United States about attacks on health facilities that threaten the ability of doctors to have safe access to patients and treat those in need. Administrator 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.