Sweden is hosting a High-Level Pledging Event about Yemen
Aid organizations are seeking nearly $ 4.3 billion to help $ 17 million today High level promise event on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Sweden, Switzerland and the UN together host today’s events in Geneva.
Seven years of conflict and economic collapse have devastated the country and exhausted people’s ability to cope. At the same time, a never-before-seen lack of funding has forced humanitarian organizations to cut back on life-saving aid in recent weeks, including food, clean water, health care and protection. In short, it means that fewer people get the help they need at a time when they need it the most.
Critical opportunity
The high-level pledge events for Yemen will be a crucial opportunity for the international community to demonstrate its continued commitment to the people of Yemen.
Yemen is living in a chronic state of emergency, marked by hunger, disease and other misery that is rising faster than aid organizations can turn around, says UN Assistant Chief Martin Griffiths to the UN Safety advice on Tuesday, which Special envoy for the country required joint efforts by Yemenis and the international community to break the entrenched circle of violence.
Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Griffiths mentioned serious risks of inertia and fatigue in weakening the difficult conditions in Yemen, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine provokes new shocks and international outrage.
$ 4.3 billion is needed
On today pledge events, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, will make an introductory statement. Other speakers include Ann Linde, Sweden’s Foreign Minister and Ignazio Cassis, Switzerland’s President and Foreign Minister, and Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed, Yemen’s Prime Minister and UNHCR’s Special Envoy Angelina Jolie.
New nationwide assessments confirm that 23.4 million people now need help – about three out of every four people. Among them are 19 million people who will go hungry in the coming months – an increase of almost 20 percent from 2021 – while more than 160,000 of them will face starvation-like conditions.
Yemen is dependent on commercial imports for 90% of its food and almost all fuel. One third of its wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine, where the conflict triggered on February 24 can push food prices, which already doubled last year, even higher.
Deficiencies in financing have forced cuts
WFP was forced to reduce food rations for eight million people at the beginning of the year due to lack of funds, David Beasley’s head of WFP told the Security Council yesterday. WFP is currently only 11 percent funded and needs more than $ 887.9 million to provide food aid to 13 million people over the next six months.
75% of the $ 14 billion generated by UN appeals has come from six donors – the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the European Commission.
“If we have a message for the world today, it is this: do not stop now,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN’s aid coordinator. “Member States must show that from the headings does not mean left behind.”