USAID: 1.7 mill, Seche Reiterates Concern
US to give $1.7million as humanitarian assistance to Yemen
Saturday 12 July 2008 21ouSat, 12 Jul 2008 21:10:26 +0300 09 PM / Mareb Press
Mareb Press
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has approved $ 1.7 million in urgent food aid to Yemen to help alleviate pressure on Yemen’s food supplies caused by the global food crisis.
In total, the donation compromises 2,540 metric tons of wheat, wheat flour, kidney beans, green peas, and rice, to be administered and distributed through the United Nations World Food Program’s ongoing humanitarian relief activities in Yemen, the US embassy in Sana’a said in a press release a copy of which was sent to Mareb Press.
In a meeting with UN aid representatives, international NGOs, and other foreign diplomats, U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen Seche reiterated the US government’s concern over the humanitarian situation in Saada, calling for immediate measures to alleviate the severe hardships faced by the civilian population.Ambassador Seche added that free and safe access to humanitarian aid for populations affected by the conflict in Sa’ada and the surrounding governorates is needed to ensure efficient delivery and distribution of food aid.
The $1.7million aid package includes $ 1.2 million to assist in the humanitarian response in northern Yemen, and $500,000 for the Somali refugees in southern Yemen.USAID has been operating in Yemen since 1958, and is currently working in five governorates: Shabwa, Mareb, AI.-Jawf, Amran, and Sa’ada.
EU
Almotamar.net - The European Commission has allocated a sum of one million euro within the framework emergency humanitarian aid to help the victims of al-Houthi rebellion in the Yemeni governorate of Saada.
A press release by the European Commission obtained by almotamar.net Tuesday mentioned that the grant, offered via administration of humanitarian aid of the European Commission (echno) and under responsibility of commissioner Luis Michel, would served to help the injured and migrants from Saada.
The European Commission allocated the one million euro to offer immediate humanitarian assistance including distribution of food, pure water, emergency sewage systems, lodging, non-food materials, medical aid materials and some integrated relief activities for about 49000 migrant persons.
The Commission appealed for all parties to facilitate reaching of all humanitarian international organisations to those affected by the battles so that to enable them carrying out their jobs effectively.
The statement mentioned that the conflict that has taken long since 2004 and has escalated lately caused negative impact on Saada governorate. The battles forced civilians to leave their areas as reports indicated that the number of those affected by the conflicts in Saada is over 77000 citizens.
The European Commission added that the steady increase in the number of migrants in camps increased the need for lodging, water and food because of the world rise in prices of food.
The Commission quoted reports that water and sewage systems and public health in camps are not satisfactory and that threatens the health of migrants.
