WHO requests about $400 million for Yemen aid

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Feb 2023 00:29
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The World Health Organization confirms that Yemen requires urgent and significant support from international donors, to avoid the complete collapse of its healthcare system.

A ship in the Yemeni port of Al-Hudaydah (AFP)

The World Health Organization (WHO) appealed to international donors to provide $392 million to deliver basic healthcare assistance to 12.9 million Yemenis in 2023.

The representative of the WHO in Yemen, Adham Abdel Moneim, said, in a statement via the organization’s website that “Yemen needs urgent and large support from international donors and other partners, to avoid the collapse” of this healthcare system.

The statement was released ahead of the high-level donors’ conference aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen which is set to be held on Monday, in Geneva.

Abdel Moneim added that "The health sector in Yemen needs new funding amounting to $392 million, to ensure the continuation of the overstretched health facilities and the provision of basic services to 12.9 million of the most vulnerable people."

The representative proclaimed "In 2023, to date, the funds that have been pledged to the WHO-led Health Cluster are equivalent to only 3.5% of the total amount of $392 million required to provide basic services."

The UN official warned that "unless this huge funding gap is closed, the organization will not be able to continue its emergency health interventions in Yemen."

Moreover, Abdel Moneim considered that "the high-level donors' conference to address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen comes at a crucial moment to show the extent of the international community's commitment to helping millions of Yemenis who suffer severely from diseases, malnutrition, and trauma."

'Final warning': UN accused of blockading Yemeni people - Official

Deputy Foreign Minister in the Sanaa government, Hussein Al-Ezzi, tersely stated, in early February, that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his special envoy Hans Grundberg are officially accused of blockading the Yemeni people.

"The UN's inspection protocol in Yemen refused to issue a permit for a ship, without providing any explanation as to why," he added.

"The arbitrariness of the UN verification protocol for ships will surely cost the United Nations a lot," Al-Ezzi said.

"This is a final warning," he stressed.

The top Yemeni official also called on the United Nations to immediately stop obstructing the Yemeni ship or abort the mission of UNIFEM.

"As for the United Nations obstructing Yemeni ships on behalf of the Saudi-led coalition, this is absolutely unacceptable," he stressed.

Two months ago, the Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation warned of the closure of the port of Al-Hudaydah due to the Saudi coalition's continued blockade on importing and entering spare parts for equipment and operational machinery for the port, which is a vital artery and a major source of humanitarian aid and basic commercial goods for Yemenis.

The Sanaa government estimated that the Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation has lost two billion and 746 million dollars as a result of brutal Saudi coalition attacks during the past eight years.

The Saudi-led coalition's blockade and restrictions on humanitarian goods, commercial imports of food, fuel, and medicines, as well as the closure of key land, air, and sea routes in Yemen, are exacerbating the humanitarian situation and amounting to death sentences for thousands of sick Yemenis.