Donors pledge $1.35 billion for Yemen: UN

JEDDAH: Donors in a virtual International Yemen Pledging Conference on Tuesday committed $1.35 billion for the conflict-ridden Arab country, an UN official said. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, at a joint online news conference with Supervisor of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr Abdullah AlRabee’a, said the UN continued to support the Yemeni people. Lowcock commended Saudi Arabia for hosting the conference and its $500 pledge for the Yemeni people. Saudi Arabia will direct $300 million for UN agencies in Yemen and $200 million for humanitarian assistance.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah headed Kuwait’s delegation in the HighLevel pledging online event to support the humanitarian situation in Yemen. Sheikh Ahmad, during a delivered speech, reaffirmed Kuwait’s continued support to the Yemeni people and for all efforts aimed at reaching a solution conducive to a lasting peace for the crisis in Yemen.

Rabee’a reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full support for the Yemeni people, and urged the UN and donor countries to commit to their pledges. Saudi Arabia is happy to host the first virtual pledging conference with this large number of participants, which included countries, UN agencies, international organizations and NGOs, said Rabee’a, also and Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court. He said pledges this year fell short of last year’s pledges because of humanitarian and economic ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. He said participants agreed on importance of reaching a political solution for the conflict in Yemen, which was also battling