UN raises $1.2 bn to help millions in war-torn Yemen

27/02/2023 

Geneva (AFP) – The United Nations raised around $1.2 billion on Monday to deliver aid this year to millions of people going hungry in war-ravaged Yemen, amid hopes that a fragile truce could foster a lasting peace.

The figure was far short of the $4.3 billion sought from donors at a pledging conference in Geneva, but the UN hoped the figure could reach $2 billion by the end of the week.

It was the seventh donor conference for Yemen in seven years -- but the UN hopes the next such gathering could focus on rebuilding the broken country rather than staving off hunger.

"We've had 31 pledges announced today and these pledges come to just about $1.2 billion," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in closing the conference.

"If we can make it $2 billion by the weekend, that would be great."

The UN says more than 21.7 million people -- two-thirds of Yemen's population -- need humanitarian assistance this year. Its appeal aims to reach the 17.3 million most vulnerable among them.

Erin Hutchinson, the Norwegian Refugee Council's Yemen chief, said the world had "abandoned Yemen at this crucial crossroads" by pledging only a quarter of the amount needed.

"This is woefully inadequate and gives the signal that some humans are less valuable than others," she said.

Many countries demanded an end to Huthi-imposed rules that force women, including female aid workers, to be accompanied by male guardians, hampering the delivery of aid.

'Measure of hope'

Yemen has been wracked by a devastating war since 2014, pitting Iran-backed Huthi rebels against the internationally recognised government, supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.

Since then, the war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, both directly and indirectly, and pushed the nation to the brink of famine.

A truce that began on April 2 last year expired on October 2, but many of its provisions have held.

"After years of death, displacement, destruction, starvation and suffering, the truce delivered real dividends for people," UN chief Antonio Guterres told the conference.

"We have a real opportunity this year to change Yemen's trajectory and move towards peace."
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths

Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalek Saeed added: "Ending the humanitarian crisis starts with ending the war."

Last year, the UN raised more than $2.2 billion to enable aid agencies to reach nearly 11 million people across the country every month.

The humanitarian organisation CARE said the 2023 pledges meant aid agencies "will be forced to reduce the number of people reached" once again.
'Glimmer of hope': Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Yemen's economy and institutions had been pushed to the brink, as Washington pledged $444 million.

"Despite the dire humanitarian conditions, there is a glimmer of hope as Yemen is experiencing the best opportunities for peace in years," he said in a statement.

"The parties now have the chance to end this war."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Geneva that the world "keeps closing its eyes far too often" on the "humanitarian catastrophe" unfolding in Yemen, as Berlin pledged 120 million euros ($127 million).

Griffiths hoped it would be the last such conference.

"The Yemeni crisis has gone on far too long, punishing millions of innocent people who didn't want it in the first place, and deserve so much better," he said.

Robert Mardini, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said each year that passed made post-conflict recovery tougher.

"Even if a lasting settlement were found, humanitarian needs would remain high for years to come," he said.

Yemen Pledging Falls Far Short of What is Needed to Help Yemeni People Survive

Published 27. Feb 2023

Yemen Humanitarian financing

Following today’s High-Level Yemen Pledging Event, held in Geneva, INGOs working in Yemen are deeply concerned over the expected consequences of a major funding shortfall. World leaders pledged less than US$ 1.2 bn for a humanitarian response that requires more than triple that amount.

The reduced funding to help the Yemeni people access protection, food, shelter and other lifesaving services comes at a critical time. Last year’s six-month truce brought hope to millions as fighting, civilian casualties and conflict-related displacement decreased significantly. But failure to renew the truce after it expired last October means that the situation remains extremely volatile, and the humanitarian situation remains dire with no significant decrease in the number of people in need.

“The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is one of the worst and most complex in the world, affecting millions of civilians who are in urgent need of assistance. Without adequate funding, it will be impossible to provide life-saving assistance to those who need it the most. We cannot allow the people of Yemen to suffer any longer.”

“I urge the international community to recommit to their promises and to work together to ensure that the needs of the Yemeni people are met with the urgency and scale that the situation demands. Ending the conflict is key to reduce the impact of the crisis on Yemeni people and the international community must double diplomacy to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace,” said Action for Humanity Country Director Mohammed Bahashwan.

While donors at the conference clearly highlighted the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Yemen, the signatories would like to emphasize the complexity of reaching a real political solution to Yemen’s long conflict and the role that addressing extreme levels of humanitarian need will play in that process.

Humanitarian actors have assessed that US$ 4.3 billion is needed to help more than 17.3 million Yemenis survive. Although fighting has reduced in many places, the economic crisis continues to push up prices of food and basic goods and services, making them increasingly out of the reach of many. Without steady sources of income, families remain dependent on humanitarian aid.

Over 4.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes, making Yemen the sixth largest displacement crisis in the world. Less than half of health facilities are currently reported to be functioning, with about 11 percent fully or partially damaged due to the conflict. There was an increase of an estimated 280,000 out-of-school children in 2022. Additionally, civilian victims of explosive remnants of war increased by 160 percent, even while the truce held.

Last year’s humanitarian response was only 52.5 percent funded and INGOs fear a continued downward trend will require aid agencies to further reduce life-saving assistance.

The gap in funding at this critical time will have not only an immediate negative impact on the lives of millions of civilians in Yemen, but on the long-term stability of the country. INGOs call on the international community to demonstrate its continued commitment to the people of Yemen by increasing the pledges towards the humanitarian response in the coming months.

Signatories:

ACTED/ Action Contre la Faim/Action for Humanity/ADRA/CARE/Catholic Relief Services/Center for Civilians in Conflict/Danish Refugee Council/ Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe/Direct Aid/ Handicap International - Humanity and Inclusion/Human Appeal/ Humanitarian Aid & Development Org/International Rescue Committee/Intersos/Islamic Help UK/ MEDGLOBAL/Mercy Corps/Norwegian People’s Aid/Norwegian Refugee Council/Oxfam/People in Need/Polish Humanitarian Action/Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale/READ Foundation/Relief International/Saferworld/Save the Children/Search for Common Ground/ SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL/Vison Hope International/War Child Canada/War Child UK/ZOA

For more information, please contact:

Ahmad Baroudi, Media and Communications Manager, Save the Children, ahmad.baroudi@savehechildren.org,

Nicola Banks: Advocacy Manager, Action for Humanity, nicola.banks@actionforhumanity.org