Arab Coalition provides unequivocal support for international humanitarian operations in Yemen: Report

ABU DHABI, 13th June, 2018 (WAM) -- Since the onset of its military operations in support of the internationally recognised government in Yemen, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition has been supportive of the relief operations undertaken by different UN and international humanitarian organisations in the country. The myriad partnerships and agreements concluded by the UAE and Saudi Arabia with several global organisations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the largest possible numbers of Yemeni society, including those living in areas still under the grip of the Iran-backed Houthi militias, bear witness to the tremendous efforts made by the pro-legitimacy powers. The Yemeni people’s support and appreciation of the UAE and Saudi aid campaigns and operations are a testimony to the sincerity of efforts made by the two countries, not to mention the global acclaim of the significant humanitarian role they are tirelessly playing in the country. In the meantime, the terrorist rebels left no stone unturned to break international conventions and dodge UN laws to smuggle in weapons into the occupied Yemeni areas, plundering state banks and departments and imposing taxes on the people to fund their atrocities. Recruitment of children and using them as human shields in their operations speak volumes about their crimes against humanity at large. "Houthis have used the international aid to supporting their subversive agendas, turning Yemeni ports under their control, particularly Hodeidah, into weaponry depots in furtherance of the Iran-backed coup scheme," said Abdul Raqeeb Fatah, Yemeni Minister of Local Administration, Chairman of the Supreme Relief Committee. "The rebels have used Hodeidah Port in illicitly providing their militias with Iranian missiles and weapons to target Saudi cities and attack shipping lines in the Arabian Sea, planting naval mines and explosives in a flagrant violation of all relevant international conventions and laws," he added. For its part, the UAE has been carrying out an integrated plan in support of all Yemeni territories, including those still lying under the control of the Houthis, sparing no effort to deliver aid to Yemen’s populace wherever they live in the country. These tremendous humanitarian efforts have been acclaimed by United Nations agencies and organsiations on many occasions, with top UN officials reaffirming that the UAE is among the top humanitarian and developmental aid providers in Yemen. In addition, the UAE, in no uncertain terms, has explicitly demonstrated full support for UN missions and roles in Yemen and its unflinching readiness to cooperate and extend a hand of help in this respect. Within this context, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, received UN Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths in April, and reaffirmed the UAE’s support for his efforts to restore peace and security to Yemen. Since the launch of the Operation Restore Hope on April 21st 2015, the UAE has spared no effort to cooperate with all international agencies to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, with the past three years, having witnessed solid realities on ground that bear evidence to the UAE’s tremendous efforts in this respect. On 28th March 2018, the UAE provided AED1.84 billion ($500 million) in support of the 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP), which aimed to provide aid to 13 million needy people. A clear-cut international acclaim came in the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres who hailed the UAE plans to ease the suffering of the Yemenis in a number of war-ravaged governorates. Within the same perspective, Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Emergency Relief Coordinator, underlined that the UAE support will contribute to meeting significant part of Yemenis’ essential food, medical and educational needs.