Al-Aradah discusses Yemen’s humanitarian situation with UN Resident Coordinator

Presidential Leadership Council vice president Sultan Al-Aradah held a video call today with the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Laurent Bukera, to discuss the latest humanitarian developments in the country and UN efforts to alleviate the humanitarian suffering.

The meeting addressed several issues related to the humanitarian situation, foremost among them the conditions of civilians and internally displaced people, growing needs amid continued challenges facing humanitarian operations and the deteriorating situation in the governorates, as well as the importance of strengthening coordination between government authorities and UN organizations.

During the meeting, Al-Aradah said civilians remain exposed to attacks and shelling by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militia, which continues to target IDP camps and populated areas, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children, as well as damage to property and civilian facilities.

Al-Aradah stressed the importance of the United Nations and humanitarian organizations fulfilling their role in protecting civilians, strengthening and expanding the humanitarian response, assessing the actual needs of affected communities across the governorates, and coordinating humanitarian efforts to help alleviate the suffering of citizens and displaced people.

He highlighted the humanitarian situation in Marib Governorate, which hosts 62 percent of the country’s total internally displaced population, and the resulting humanitarian and service pressures caused by the continued influx of displaced people and growing needs in food, shelter, health, education, water, electricity and public services, amid limited resources and declining humanitarian funding.

Al-Aradah stressed the importance of keeping civilian protection a priority for the international community. He affirmed the political leadership and government’s readiness to provide the necessary facilities to humanitarian organizations and strengthen coordination with them to ensure that projects and programs are implemented according to needs.

For his part, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen reviewed the efforts of the United Nations and its partners to respond to Yemen’s growing humanitarian needs, stressing the importance of strengthening partnership and joint efforts to help protect civilians, and maintaining cooperation and coordination to ensure support reaches those in need and humanitarian programs are strengthened across the governorates.