UN raises $1.2 billion to help millions facing hunger in Yemen

The United Nations (UN) raised around $1.2 billion on Monday (February 27) to deliver aid this year to millions going hungry in Yemen, with the United States pledging more than $444 million of the total amount and Germany $127 million.

The amount raised fell far short of the $4.3 billion sought from donors at a pledging conference in Geneva, but the UN said it hoped the figure could reach $2 billion by the end of the week.

It was the seventh donor conference for Yemen in seven years.

"We've had 31 pledges announced today and these pledges come to just about $1.2 billion," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said Monday. "If we can make it $2 billion by the weekend, that would be great."

"The Yemeni crisis has gone on far too long, punishing millions of innocent people who didn't want it in the first place, and deserve so much better," he said.

The latest US pledge brings the total amount of US aid to Yemen to more than $5.4 billion since the conflict began in 2015.

In a video message, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington's commitment to alleviating the suffering of millions in Yemen "remains resolute", as he called for a lasting end to the crisis.

"As long as the fighting goes on, so will the suffering," he said.

According to the UN, more than 21.7 million people in Yemen need humanitarian assistance this year. Its appeal aims to reach the 17.3 million most vulnerable.

Last year, the UN raised more than $2.2 billion to enable aid agencies to reach nearly 11 million people across the country every month.

The humanitarian organisation CARE said the 2023 pledges meant aid agencies "will be forced to reduce the number of people reached" once again.

The World Health Organisation says it needs $392 million to reach 12.9 million people with health assistance and "avert the potential collapse of its health system".

Nearly half of all health facilities in Yemen are only partly functioning or are completely out of service because of shortages of staff, funds, electricity, medicines, supplies and equipment, it said.

'Chance to end this war'

Each year that passes makes post-conflict recovery tougher, said International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head Robert Mardini.

"Even if a lasting settlement were found, humanitarian needs would remain high for years to come," he said.

A truce that went into effect last April 2 expired October 2, but many of its provisions have held, giving "a measure of hope for the future", UN chief Antonio Guterres told the conference.

"After years of death, displacement, destruction, starvation and suffering, the truce delivered real dividends for people," Guterres said.

"We have a real opportunity this year to change Yemen's trajectory and move towards peace."

In a statement, Blinken also noted that "despite the dire humanitarian conditions, there is a glimmer of hope as Yemen is experiencing the best opportunities for peace in years".

"The parties now have the chance to end this war," he said.

"Ending the humanitarian crisis starts with ending the war," said Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalek Saeed.

Houthi attack in Marib

Many donor countries demanded an end to rules imposed by the Iran-backed Houthis in areas they control that force women, including female aid workers, to be accompanied by male guardians, hampering the delivery of aid.

Meanwhile, Houthi attacks in northern Yemen continue to claim lives.

At least four Yemeni soldiers were killed in clashes with the Houthis in Marib province, a Yemeni army official said Sunday.

"Four soldiers were killed while confronting Houthi rebels on Saturday evening in the south of Harib district in Marib province," the military official said.

The casualties came as soldiers responded to a "surprise attack", he added.

Medical sources in Marib confirmed the toll.

Several other soldiers were wounded in the fighting, which ended hours after the initial Houthi attack on Yemeni government positions in Harib, medics and the army official said.