UN says $4.3 billion needed for Yemen humanitarian response this year
The United Nations (UN) says it needs US$4.3 billion to fund its humanitarian activities this year in Yemen, which is witnessing its worst humanitarian crisis as a result of the armed conflict.
The funds are needed to help the 17.3 million most vulnerable people in need of humanitarian support as a result of protracted conflict, displacement and economic decline in the country in 2023, the Associated Press quoted the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as saying.
Emergency aid
He said the world body will provide urgent assistance to nearly 14 million people, two-thirds of Yemen’s population, while 21.6 million will need humanitarian assistance for this year’s low-cost protection services, which targeted 23.4 million people in 2022.
The UN humanitarian plan will provide $4.27 billion to help 17.9 million people.
Helping displaced and disabled people
“This year’s Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan will support people facing multiple vulnerabilities, including but not limited to IDPs, those trying to return to their homes, marginalized people with disabilities, migrants and refugees”, the statement said.
This year’s Humanitarian Response Strategy also aims to meet immediate and critical levels of need and provide immediate, life-saving humanitarian assistance, the statement said.
Humanitarian and development actors will take part in coordinated action according to a recently established mechanism to expand the coherence efforts between the UNDP and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the statement said.
Services collapse continues
The statement said it is likely that humanitarian needs this year will remain stable and that the resilience of vulnerable populations will decline as a result of the continued collapse of basic services and the fragility of the Yemeni economy due to macroeconomic instability and the depreciation of the Yemeni riyal.
Last year, the UN launched a $4.27 billion humanitarian response plan for Yemen, but funding for the plan has been drastically reduced by only 54.6 percent, leaving a $1.94 billion gap, affecting the delivery of humanitarian assistance and leading to a decline in emergency food assistance for millions in need.
