On Wednesday, Samantha Power, head of USAID, became the first top Biden administration official to publicly acknowledge that famine is present in northern Gaza. She was questioned by House Democrat Joaquin Castro during a congressional hearing.

Rep. Joaquin Castro: “So, there’s — famine is already occurring there?”

Samantha Power: “That is” —

Rep. Joaquin Castro: “Yeah.”

Samantha Power: “Yes.”

Castro then asked Power how many children were at risk of dying in the coming weeks due to famine.

Samantha Power: “In northern Gaza, the rate of malnutrition prior to October 7th was almost zero, and it is now one in three — one in three kids.”