Mercy Corps and NGOs Issue Letter to Congress on Supplemental International Assistance

07 September 2023

Dear Chairwoman Granger, Chairwoman Murray, Ranking Member DeLauro, and Vice Chairwoman Collins,

As members of InterAction, the largest alliance of U.S based NGOs that implement and advocate for U.S humanitarian, health, development, and democracy programs, we applaud, the administration's request for supplemental humanitarian assistance that supports humanitarian, food security, and resilience needs globally. We urge Congress to use these amounts requested as a floor to provide robust funding to address the compounding effects of the conflict in Ukraine and other stressors. We are grateful for the supplemental resources Congress has provided since the start of the conflict, but global needs are far outpacing existing funding resources. 

Increased humanitarian aid in Ukraine and the regions impacted by the conflict is required to support the growing number of people in need of emergency shelter, food assistance, safe drinking water, protection, and healthcare. Many people in Ukraine are still not being reached with health, child protection, and sanitation assistance. Moreover, the events in Ukraine continue to have an outsized impact on global food security and the ability to respond robustly to nearly every crisis globally. The crisis has caused significant disruptions to grain protection and shipments that feed the world, as well as essential fertilizers for farmers across the globe. It has contributed heavily to rising costs and decreased availability of food and agricultural inputs, greater supply chain disruptions, and increased fuel costs. Prior to the Ukraine crisis the world was experiencing one of the greatest hunger crisis in generations, with the greatest impacts on the most vulnerable communities, including women, children, and youth. In 2022, roughly 735 million people experienced chronic hunger, an increase of 122 million people from 2019, with the conflict of Ukraine serving as a hunger multiplier. 

In addition, we recognize that Congress will continue to advance Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations bills and understand that supplemental resources are not a substitute for strong base funding, now and in future years. Therefore we urge Congress to work diligently to pass FY2024 State and Foreign Operations appropriations at no less than the current FY2023 levels. 

The United States has long led the global community in responding to humanitarian and food crisis like the one we are experiencing today. We hope that Congress will continue that important legacy. We encourage Congress to enact robust supplemental funding for global humanitarian, food security, and resilience programs to save lives, advance U.S. global leadership, and strengthen security and prosperity here at home and around the world. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely 

ADRA International 

Airlink 

Alliance for Peacebuilding

Alliance to End Hunger 

American Jewish World Service 

Better World Campaign 

Blumont

Bread for the World

Buddist Tzu Chi Foundation 

CARE

Catholic Relief Services 

Church World Service 

Corus International 

Doctors of the World USA

FHI 360 

Food for the Hungry 

Global Emergency Relief, Recovery & Reconstruction (GER3)

Global Communities 

Global Health Council 

Habitat for Humanity International 

Heartland Alliance International 

Helen Keller International 

HelpAge USA

HIAS

Humanity & Inclusion 

InterAction

International Medical Corps 

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)

International Rescue Committee

IREX

Islamic Relief USA 

IYF

Jesuit Refugee Service/USA 

MedGlobal 

Mercy Corps 

Nonviolent Peaceforce 

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) USA

ONE Campaign 

Operation USA

Oxfam America

Physicians for Peace 

Plan International USA 

Plant With Purpose 

Project HOPE 

Refugees International 

RTI International 

Save the Children

SPOON

Together for Girls

U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants 

UNICEF USA

United Mission for Relief and Development Aid 

Water for South Sudan, Inc. 

WaterAid America 

Women's Refugee Commission 

World Food Program USA

World Institute on Disability 

World Learning 

World Vision