Yemen aid meeting collects $2.6 billion as Arab allies open wallets

GENEVA: A UN conference shored up $2.6 billion to aid Yemen’s starving population on Tuesday in Geneva, as the military alliance that fights alongside the government against Ansar Allah made major financial contributions.

“Today’s pledging conference can be considered a success,” said UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres, pointing out that nearly four years of war in Yemen have turned the country into the world’s biggest humanitarian problem.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they would contribute $500 million each, while Kuwait promised $150 million.

Guterres said that aid alone won’t end the suffering in Yemen. “There are no humanitarian solutions to humanitarian problems,” he said, calling for talks to build on a Unsponsored truce agreement for the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Following the deal that was reached late last year, there has been a hold-up in the withdrawal of fighters, and both sides blame each other for breaching a ceasefire.

Saudi-led attacks have killed nearly 4,600 out of the 7,000 verified civilians who have died in the war, according to the latest figures by the UN Human Rights Office. Aid organisations outside the UN system voiced criticism on Tuesday.

“Ironically, many of these donor governments are also involved in the war, which is both driving massive humanitarian needs and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.

“While billions are spent on bombs and weapons bringing death and destruction, much less is made available to save lives of Yemeni civilians,” said Mohamed Abdi, who manages the Yemen operations of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

However, aid groups as well as UN representatives stressed that all sides of the conflict should stop hindering aid deliveries.

Guterres delivered the news that humanitarian workers were finally able to reach the critical grain storage facility at the Red Sea Mills, which had been inaccessible for six months.