United States Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator nominee Samantha Power clarified her position on delivering humanitarian assistance to Yemen at the Senate today. She also addressed her record on Libya and Israel.
Power, who served as US ambassador to the United Nations and on the National Security Council under former President Barack Obama, went before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday. She was nominated by US President Joe Biden to head USAID, which is responsible for the US government’s foreign assistance and development projects around the world.
Yemen, where the yearslong civil war has produced a humanitarian catastrophe, was raised by Senators at the hearing. The Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, is fighting the Houthi rebels, who receive support from Iran. The previous administration of US President Donald Trump designated Houthi forces as terrorists before he left office in January, but the Biden administration removed the designation in February due to concerns the designation would inhibit aid deliveries to Houthi-held territory.
The Biden administration also restored humanitarian aid to Houthi areas in March. The Trump administration previously suspended the assistance due to concerns Houthi forces were interfering with the distribution.
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