UAE pledges $230 million additionally to support Yemeni people

 The United Arab Emirates has pledged $230 million additionally to support Yemeni people as the country faced one of the worst humanitarian disasters in human history. UAE has been continuously showing support to the struggling country with its commitment to help those who are in need.

The move came ahead of the United Nations pledging conference co-hosted in between the Swiss Confederation and the Kingdom of Sweden. The UAE is already assisting Yemen with providing frequent humanitarian aid which serve the bilateral terms between the two countries and apart from that, the assistance is also being provided for the medical aspects and security reasons in the country.

The UAE has also promised its support in working with the stakeholders while also addressing the needs that have been set forwards by the United nations Humanitarian Response plan for Yemen and the countries that are willing to be a part of this initiative.

The houthi rebels took over the country in 2014 and just a year later the country was torn into pieces and that is when the UAE stepped in for help. Since 2015, the emirati nation has provided more than $6 billion in assistance to Yemen, which has in turn resulted in benefiting nearly 122,000 healthcare workers.

The healthcare workers were fighting coronavirus and were aiming at containing the virus in the country as the country already lacked basic healthcare facilities and a virus attack would have further worsened the situation. The gulf nation not only did best to help the healthcare sector but also ensured continuity in schools and other vital programs.

The minister of state and international cooperation, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, also talked about the UAE’s efforts in helping the Yememi people. “Over the course of the pandemic, the UAE has sent 122 tonnes of medical supplies to Yemen to boost the efforts of some 122,000 healthcare workers to contain COVID-19, as well as provided health-enhancing food and supplements through the World Food Programme, and support to other sectors such as education, health, and water,” said the minister.

The minister also noted that apart from aids, the country is also taking a note of the humanitarian situation in Yemen where it is working in coordination with international organisations. One of the major concerns of the UAE is the health of Yemeni people, their food security and the serious concern of malnourished children.

The most recent commitment is towards the food needs of six million Yemenis of which nearly one million are children. The minister also added, “The UAE also acknowledges recent international efforts to ensure that critical aid is not obstructed from reaching the most vulnerable groups in society, specifically women and children.”

She further assured that the UAE remains committed towards helping those who are on ground and can stay in touch with those in need while also ensuring that those in need are served first.

The move will contribute towards a political conclusion and probably accelerate the end of the Yemen crisis, hoped the minister.