UN official thanks Saudi Arabia for $500m aid for Yemen

The under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Mark Lowcock, thanked Saudi Arabia for $500 million in funding to the UN for the 2019 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

Lowcock said the grant will be distributed by OCHA to the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the UN Children’s Fund, the International Organization for Migration, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Development Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, general supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), presented Lowcock with a cheque for $500 million from Saudi Arabia.

The ceremony took place at the opening of a conference titled “Humanitarian Situation Yemen, The Way Forward,” which featured statements from a number of UN officials and diplomats, including foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Following the signing, Lowcock expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom’s generous support: “With today’s provision of funds from Saudi Arabia, the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan will have received more than $2.3 billion, or 56 percent of its requirements for the year. This is substantial progress, and we thank all our donors for their support.” Al-Rabeeah said that KSRelief commends the efforts of the UN organizations, which share our commitment to alleviating the suffering of the people of Yemen in accordance with international humanitarian laws and principles of neutrality. “I assure you that Saudi Arabia is keen to support all peace initiatives submitted by the UN envoys to Yemen.”

“The Kingdom has also supports all meaningful and constructive dialogue that supports peace efforts and adopts peaceful solutions in Yemen, such as the Yemen National Dialogue, the Stockholm Agreement and UN Resolution 2216 to ensure the return of peace, security and stability to Yemen, the region and the entire world,” Al-Rabeeah said.