Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies that are currently bombarding Yemen have pledged more than $1 billion to help civilians in the war-ravaged country in a donor conference convened by the United Nations.
U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres hailed the donor conference in Geneva as a “remarkable success” as the total pledges amounted to $2 billion, 30 percent less than the 2018 target in Yemen humanitarian appeal.
Guterres told reporters that in addition to the $2 billion already committed, multiple countries had promised more donations in the coming months, leaving him “optimistic that we will be able to reach the level that corresponds to the needs.”
Last year’s Yemen appeal for $2.5 billion, which was 73 percent funded, but the needs have intensified in a country battered since 2015 by a Saudi-led military offensive aimed at repelling Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital.
The U.N. has labeled Yemen “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis” and said that three-quarters of its population — around 22 million people — need some form of aid.
Pay for what you break?
Saudi Arabia and its allies have repeatedly been accused of hitting civilian targets including hospitals and markets in their three-year campaign against the Huthis.
The kingdom and its coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates, were also the largest donors at Tuesday’s conference, jointly pledging $1 billion in humanitarian relief, according to figures provided by the U.N.
Asked if he saw a contradiction in the Saudi stance towards Yemen, Guterres said a country’s humanitarian commitments and military actions should be kept separate.
“We all know that there is a war. We all know who the parties (are) to the war but the two things need to be seen separately,” the U.N. chief told reporters. “Independent of the fact that there is a war, there are humanitarian obligations that are assumed by countries,” he said.
“The countries that are also party to the conflict were party to these international efforts to support the people of Yemen.”
Guterres underscored that the only way to ensure that Yemen donor conferences do not continue year after year is for the sides to negotiate a peace deal. “There was never a humanitarian solution for any humanitarian crisis,” he said. “The solution has always been political.”
The U.N.’s Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, has recently visited Riyadh and Sanaa in hopes of revitalizing sputtering peace talks. “I believe there is an opportunity and that opportunity must be seized,” Guterres said, explaining that Griffiths was “encouraged” by his trip and sees a window for further talks.
Unrestricted access
According to the U.N., 8.4 million people are on the verge of famine in Yemen, where food imports are essential to sustain the population. The Saudi-led coalition shut down the country’s land, sea and air borders last year in response to a missile attack by the Huthis that was intercepted near Riyadh.
While the coalition has eased the blockade, restrictions on deliveries persist. “Humanitarians must be able to reach the people who need help the most, without conditions,” Guterres said.
“All ports must remain open to humanitarian and commercial cargo, the medicines, food and the fuel needed to deliver them,” he added, emphasizing the need for “unrestricted access” to the country and within it.
About 10,000 Yemenis have been killed and 53,000 wounded since the start of the coalition intervention in Yemen.