UN releases $50 million to meet humanitarian needs in Yemen

IANS  |  United Nations 

The has approved $50 million to meet the humanitarian needs in Yemen, said a UN on Friday.

The money is the largest ever allocation by the Central Emergency Response Fund, quoted as saying.

UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Mark Lowcock, who approved the allocation on Friday, said there must be reduction both in fighting on the ground and airstrikes, which have greatly intensified in recent weeks.

He also stressed the need to have all ports open without interruption so that humanitarian supplies can be shipped into

Lowcock said he remained deeply concerned by the deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the country although there has been progress in the past month in opening Yemen's critical ports to commercial fuel and food shipments, as well as the resumption of humanitarian shipments and flights.

Lowcock stressed that the Yemeni people need an end to the conflict so that they can begin to rebuild their lives.

For this to happen, the parties to the conflict must cease hostilities and engage meaningfully with the to achieve a lasting political settlement.

The Saudi-led coalition, which is launching airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, sealed off after intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Houthi rebels toward the Saudi capital city of in early November.

The blockade was later partially lifted.

--IANS

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First Published: Sat, January 06 2018. 08:00 IST