The collapse of the economy and the explosion in food prices in Yemen led to “one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world,” says Foreign Minister Baerbock. After an international fundraising conference, the war-torn country is now receiving a billion-dollar injection.
At an international conference, almost 1.2 billion US dollars (about 1.13 billion euros) in humanitarian aid for the civil war country Yemen was raised. According to the United Nations, more than 30 countries promised further concrete donations in Geneva. Germany pledged 120 million euros. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “In Yemen we have been seeing one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the world for years, to which the world has repeatedly and far too often turned a blind eye.”
After almost eight years of civil war, more than 20 million people – almost two-thirds of the population – need support in the poorest Arab country. In 2014, Iran-backed Shia Houthi rebels overran the country. Since then they have dominated large areas, especially in the north.
They are being fought by the government and a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia. The civil war has displaced millions of people across the country. More than two million children are severely malnourished, and hundreds of thousands are in critical condition. The economy has collapsed and food prices have risen sharply.
The UN estimates the need this year at more than four billion euros. In 2022, the UN asked for donations of a similar amount. But he only got half of it. Nevertheless, the money was enough to prevent a famine, said emergency aid coordinator Martin Griffiths. The largest donors last year were the USA, Germany – with around 194.5 million euros – and the European Union.
From Griffiths’ point of view, apart from aid, what the country needs above all is peace. “In Yemen there is an opportunity to really settle a conflict,” he said. The country has been suffering for too long. The ceasefire last year was rare good news from Yemen. It must be extended.
Baerbock pointed out that 400,000 children also suffered from extreme hunger. Especially in light of the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it is “our responsibility to provide more humanitarian aid worldwide and especially in Yemen.” Many poorer countries are suffering from the rise in food prices because Russia, in its war against Ukraine, has partly blocked Ukrainian exports of grain and fertilizer and is finding it more difficult to export itself because of sanctions.
