mr. okeefe. in your experiences in working with the food for peace program, i would love to hear your view kind of assessment of potential aspects of in-kind food aid relative to the benefits of the cash-based assistance. so, you know, we have been in -- per suing a different direction and a couple years into that if you could share your perspectives are we balancing it right now that would be helpful. >> absolutely. thank you, senator. so, in our assessment, cash say very important tool to have in our toolbox and we deeply have appreciated the additional flexibility that the program has granted and the efsp program authorized by this committee as part of the global food security act. we still need in-kind food aid in very specific situations. in ethiopia for example where the need is huge, in-kind food aid is critical. in south sudan where i was two years ago visiting and sought dysfunction of markets rrts overall lk of food available and the unbelievable need, we need to bring in food assistanc

mr. okeefe. in your experiences in working with the food for peace program, i would love to hear your view kind of assessment of potential aspects of in-kind food aid relative to the benefits of the cash-based assistance. so, you know, we have been in -- per suing a different direction and a couple years into that if you could share your perspectives are we balancing it right now that would be helpful. >> absolutely. thank you, senator. so, in our assessment, cash say very important tool to have in our toolbox and we deeply have appreciated the additional flexibility that the program has granted and the efsp program authorized by this committee as part of the global food security act. we still need in-kind food aid in very specific situations. in ethiopia for example where the need is huge, in-kind food aid is critical. in south sudan where i was two years ago visiting and sought dysfunction of markets rrts overall lk of food available and the unbelievable need, we need to bring in food assistanc

mr. okeefe. >> thank you, chairman corker. ranking member cardin and members of the committee for this opportunity to provide testimony on modernizing the food for peace program. the food for peace program and the committed staff of the office of food for peace has been a mainstay of the american response to hunger for over 60 years and it reflects the generosity of the american people. since it's founding, food for peace has only gotten better and today say dynamic program effectively delivering a hand up to people and communities otherwise left out of foreign assistance. and natural in conflict emergencies food for peace provides life saving food to people, and communities experiencing chronic hung ger and they prevent people from falling into desperation. last year eastern and southern africa were hit by the most severe elnino drought in a generation, but an anticipated famine in ethiopia never materialize dollars because food for peace partnering with other u.s. and international entities, catholic reliever is vuss and oth