THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid ("the Humanitarian Aid Regulation"), and in particular Article 2, notably 2 (c), Article 4 and Article 15(2) and (3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2001/822/EC of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community ("Overseas Association Decision"), and in particular Articles 21 and 30 thereof,

Whereas:

More than 90 per cent of internally displaced persons from Abyan have returned home since June 2012. Local authorities are struggling to meet the needs of all returnees.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• On May 16, U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed warned that Yemen’s long-standing humanitarian crisis threatens to undermine recent moves toward political stability. RC/HC Ahmed called for increased support for humanitarian organizations, which continue to scale up efforts to meet the needs of IDPs, host communities, returnees, and other displaced populations.

The UN's Central Emergency Response Fund dispersed US$485 million to projects in 49 countries and territories in 2012 – the highest amount since its inception.

ROME — Canada's leadership on food security and nutrition is contributing to the reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition in developing countries. The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, participated today in a round table in Rome to discuss global food security and nutrition, and the role of private sector partnerships.

The just-published 2012 Annual Report on Switzerland's International Cooperation sets out a unified strategy that encompasses – for the first time – humanitarian aid, technical and financial cooperation, economic and trade policy measures, and cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe. SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden and State Secretary and Director of SECO Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch stress that this important milestone has been welcomed both by Parliament and by public opinion.

The new voters registry remains a major challenge for Yemen and its partners, said UNDP

SANA’A, 26 May 2013. The United Kingdom, Sweden and Japan announced today a contribution of US $15,200,000 in support of the coming voter registration, Referendum and electoral process in Yemen. This support will be channeled through the Multi-donors Basket Fund, administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and will serve to bolster the implementation of the Support to the Elections during the Transitional Period (SETP) project in Yemen.

Over 182,000 IDPs have returned so far, of which about 146,000 are in 11 districts of Abyan Governorate. About 322,444 IDPs continue to be displaced in the north (Sana’a included) and only 36,845 returnees to Sa’ada Governorate. Ethiopian migrants with the hope of crossing over to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continue to migrate into Yemen.