Aid to Yemen tops $4bn as UAE commits to assistance for long haul
Emirates Red Crescent delivers 35,000 tonnes of food and supplies
The UAE’s humanitarian assistance to Yemen is close to US$4 billion (Dh14.7bn), Minister of State for International Co-operation Reem Al Hashimy said yesterday.
The Arab Coalition – which includes Saudi Arabia and the UAE – intervened in Yemen’s war in 2015 to fight the Iranbacked Houthi rebels at the request of the internationally recognised government of Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.
“We are here for the long run. We have been with Yemen, there’s a commitment of almost $4bn in the last three years, from 2015 to 2018,” Ms Al Hashimy said.
The UAE’s humanitarian campaign, represented by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), has stepped up operations sincelast year. It has provided 35,000 tonnes of food and supplies, enough to assist two million people for a month, she said.
“The [ERC] has been incredibly active in providing aid and, as of yesterday, has already dispatched a team that will help with the distribution of that aid.”
Her comments came a day before the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, was due in Aden for a new round of talks with Mr Hadi.
The UAE has said the coalition campaign aimed to help the UN envoy in his last chance to convince the Houthis to withdraw unconditionally from the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
The coalition was in close contact with UN envoy Mr Griffiths, “and we do want to see this come to a positive conclusion”, Ms Al Hashimy said.
On June 13, the Arab Coalition launched an operation to retake Hodeidah, a gateway for up to three quarters of Yemen’s imports. The Houthis have used the port to ship Iranian-supplied weapons into Yemen and profit from illegally sold humanitarian aid.
“We are hopeful and we believe in the political process,” Ms Al Hashimy said. The UAE “cannot imagine a set-up where Houthis can be in the city [of Hodeidah]”.
“The special envoy requires about a week or so in his conversations, those are quite delicate. Friday or Saturday this week, it comes to an end. We have continued to take a very measured and tactical approach,” she said.
The UAE has demanded the rebels withdraw from both the port and city in order to avoid a military assault on the densely populated area.
“We are committed to creating a stable environment to help Yemeni people thrive and reach their potential in terms of employment and health care. There is so much that they are capable of that they deserve and have been robbed of,” Ms Al Hashimy said.
The coalition says it can capture the port without major disruption to aid or the loss of life.
“The UAE is part of the Arab Coalition to ensure that we bring stability and prosperity, and bringing the safety of civilian lives is at the forefront of what we need to do,” she said.
The Yemeni government fears the rebels’ grip on the city will cut the only lifeline for millions facing starvation.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said yesterday that the liberation of Hodeidah was an “essential step” to a political solution.
“To move the UN-led political process in Yemen, the liberation of Hodeidah is essential. We are determined to end this war. Our priority is the peaceful withdrawal of Houthi militias from the city and port,” Dr Gargash tweeted. “Securing Hodeidah is an essential step towards a political conclusion.
“Otherwise, the mentality of zero-sum solutions and utility of profiteering from a war economy will continue to prevail.”
He reiterated the UAE’s backing for talks to end the war.
“We continue to support the UN-led efforts in Hodeidah and Yemen. A UN/Yemeni-led political process will accelerate with a Houthi decision to withdraw from Hodeidah and avoid a confrontation,” he said.
“The coalition is acting responsibly and rationally in trying to secure Hodeidah peacefully and by avoiding a confrontation. Yet, achieving our objectives is essential to ending the war in Yemen.”
Several rounds of UN-brokered talks between the rebels and the government have failed. The Houthis have repeatedly refused to hand over control of Hodeidah to the UN, while the government fears their grip on the port will cut a lifeline for Yemenis – 8.4 million of whom are in danger of famine, according to the World Health Organisation.