UN launches $702m humanitarian response plan for Yemen

The United Nations (UN) on Monday launched the amended humanitarian response plan for the year 2013 in Yemen at a total funding cost of $ 702 million. The plan was launched by the country humanitarian team in Yemen on behalf of the United Nations agencies and local and international non-governmental organizations. The Resident-Representative of the United Nations and Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator in Yemen, Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed, told the official news agency ‘Saba’ that the plan aims to provide food, clean water, health care and other vital services for 7.7 million of the most vulnerable groups. He added that the topics related to conflicts and instability in places other than Yemen overshadowed on the region, warning that factors of long-term stability would not be available without addressing the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni people. Ould Sheikh Ahmed urged international and regional donors to provide the necessary funding for these important activities that will have a direct impact in saving lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable Yemenis. A statement issued by the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs Coordination in Yemen, pointed out that the humanitarian challenges are enormous in Yemen, where there are more than 13 million people (more than half of the population) are in need of humanitarian aid. The statement noted that the unrest and instability in Yemen over the past two years have led to the near-collapse of the most basic services, as well as to a larger increase in poverty levels. “The conflict has forced hundreds of thousands of Yemenis to flee away from their homes, and the prospects for the return of 3 million displaced people in the northern regions of the country are still weak and they need access to basic services, food and protection urgently”, the statement added. It indicated that the new national displacement policy in Yemen sets long-term solutions and humanitarian agencies support the implementation of this policy. The statement pointed out that more than 90 percent of the displaced people who fled violence in the southern regions, which took place last year, have returned to their homes, and these returnees have become in dire need to help to restore the infrastructure and basic services. The statement noted that the humanitarian response plan for Yemen got at middle of the year funding by 38 per cent and that the shortfall in funding has led to lower levels in presenting the life-saving aid.