Biden will hold a call with US allies on Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine
President Joe Biden’s USAID director Samantha Power was at the Poland-Ukraine border Sunday to observe incoming refugees.
Today, I saw the human role in speaking to the Ukrainian refugees you just heard on arrival at the border and if this conflict continues it will only get worse”, Power told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the federal agency primarily responsible for administering foreign civilian aid and other assistance.
Strength reflected in what she saw at the border, referring to the fact that the group of people crossing the border consisted of almost exclusively women and children.
“As someone who has been through a lot of refugee crises over the years, really one of the most striking features of today’s population is that it’s almost exclusively women and children and this speaks volumes. Whole social mobilization has occurred within Ukraine and men of combat age are staying behind to become part of the units defending this territory,” Power said.
Men between the ages of 18-60 are currently not allowed to leave Ukraine.
She added: “It’s been tough, this journey for the families I’ve talked to.”
Power also spoke of the “shock” many Ukrainians expressed at Russia’s gratuitous invasion of Ukraine, and their desire for peace.
On Sunday night, Power tweeted a video of her visit near Poland’s border with Ukraine, adding more about what she saw.
On Saturday, USAID said Power would travel “to Poland and Belgium February 26-28 to discuss the United States government’s coordinated response to allies and partners in response to the invasion of Ukraine.” Russia’s gratuitous and irrational”.
