On 2 June 2020, the virtual High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen was organised to raise funding for supporting humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people affected by a 5-year-long conflict. As the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported, international donors, including more than 125 Member States’ representatives, International Organisations, UN Agencies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society, promised to give $1.35 billion for assisting humanitarian operations. Though commended internationally, the pledge also caused disappointment coming as response to the UN urgent request for raising $2.4 billion to support its agencies and associated partners’ programmes for preventing the disastrous consequences of the war and imminent threat of Covid-19.
The Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said “We welcome the pledges made today. But this still falls far short of what is needed to alleviate the suffering”, adding "But money alone is not enough. These pledges are worth little if people are still fleeing from bombs and crossfire and their hospitals attacked. All parties must lay down their weapons and join forces to meet the one common enemy at the gates: Covid-19".
According to The New Humanitarian, the UN asked for $4.2 billion but received only $3.6 billion by international donors last year. This time, UN made a desperate plea warning that that three-quarters of its agencies’ programmes risk being shut down due to financial aid shortfalls. In the war-torn Yemen, people rely almost exclusively on external aid for survival and as the coronavirus pandemic advances the lives of millions are at even more risk due to persisting conflict and a collapsed health system. It is time for action and for international donors to join forces and come together to support protecting the Yemeni people.
To know more, please read:
https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/06/03/Yemen-coronavirus-aid-pledges-Saudi-Arabia
https://www.nrc.no/news/2020/june/reaction-to-the-yemen-pledging-conference/
https://www.unocha.org/sites/unocha/files/2020%20Yemen%20HLE%20Announcement%20Results.pdf
Author: Rossella Fadda
