Brussels, 5 July 2017—The European Union (EU) confirms its commitment to Yemen by providing EUR 25 million (nearly USD 27 million) to support the vulnerable Yemeni people affected by the devastating conflict.
The project, to be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and local communities, will help struggling households to earn income to buy food and other essentials; keep some of the remaining healthcare facilities open and provide more psychosocial support to affected civilians.
The main results under this commitment are expected to:
- Give 42,000 people much-needed cash in return for helping to rebuild around 45 health facilities, including women, youth and those internally displaced by the conflict. The cash-for-work programme will indirectly benefit around 250,000 people;
- Invest in solar energy for at least 80 health facilities affected by fuel shortages and electricity cuts; and
- Mobilize local networks, including teachers, to identify adults and children in conflict-affected areas who need psychosocial support and refer them to adequate treatment
- The EU and UNDP will work together across the 21 governorates and one municipality in Yemen, in response to the latest conflict.
For more than two years, UNDP has worked with communities affected by the growing humanitarian crisis, including through projects to increase food production; support small and micro-businesses; train women as community health and nutrition workers and train NGO staff on working in conflict contexts.
UNDP Country Director in Yemen, Auke Lootsma, said Yemen already had high levels of poverty before the conflict, and the crisis had pushed the resilience of Yemenis to the limit and beyond.
“With the much-needed help of the EU, UNDP is complementing the ongoing humanitarian response in Yemen by enrolling the poorest families in cash-for-work activities so they can afford to buy food, water and medicines,” Mr Lootsma said.
“Yemen is among the largest forgotten crises in world, with a looming famine and devastating cholera outbreak.
“With the economy and state institutions collapsing, the population needs all the support they can get.”
Antonia Calvo Puerta, European Union Ambassador for Yemen, said: “The protracted nature of the crisis, and the fact that it is severely affecting the majority of the population, is putting immense pressure on the international community, which is called to ensure a response at scale.
“The European Union is committed to offer relief to the Yemeni population in this protracted difficult situation, with any available diplomatic and financial instruments.”