Today in El-Arish, Egypt, Administrator Samantha Power announced that the United States, through USAID, will provide more than $21 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza and the West Bank affected by the ongoing conflict, which has left approximately 2.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Today's announcement builds on the $100 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance announced by President Biden on October 18.
The funding announced today will support the provision of essential hygiene and shelter supplies, food, and market-based assistance for more than 120,000 people. In addition, the funding will support psychosocial care and critical health services for the overwhelmed health system in Gaza where approximately 60 percent of hospitals are not operational. Additionally, this funding will support the establishment of an NGO-operated field hospital in Gaza that will boost the existing health system by providing in-patient care.
This announcement comes as, at USAID's request, the Department of Defense (DoD) U.S. Central Command delivered another 16.3 metric tons, or 36,000 pounds, of United Nations medical supplies, winter clothing, and food and nutrition assistance to address immediate needs on the ground. This is the second DoD airlift of UN relief supplies from Jordan to Egypt - the first, on November 28, airlifted more than 54,000 pounds of UN supplies. In addition, the United States recently delivered more than 500,000 pounds of emergency food supplies to help the civilians in Gaza. Much more support from the American people is on the way.
With partners throughout the region and across the globe, the United States has been leading efforts to address the grave and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and increase the flow of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The United States continues to work around the clock to overcome diplomatic and operational hurdles for humanitarian access, present solutions to emerging humanitarian assistance challenges, and significantly scale up this response to where it needs to be.
