The United Nations (UN) has warned that failure to bridge the wide gaps in the budget for humanitarian relief operations in Yemen will have catastrophic consequences for this country, especially as the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps fiercely there.
The Yemenis also suffer from other diseases such as malaria, cholera and malnourishment.
Marc Lockock, Under-Secretary-General of the UN for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, pointed out during a virtual meeting closed to the UN Security Council, that the Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Yemeni territories.
The death rate of the total number of infections in the country was about 25%, more than five times the global average.
On the other hand, UK Foreign Secretary implied that about one million people in Yemen were infected with the deadly virus.
The UN official emphasized that many of the infections and deaths caused by the COVID-19 in Yemen are countless due to the collapse of the health care system, adding that the cost of funeral and burial services in some areas increased seven-fold over several months.
Lockock mentioned that the Corona pandemic increases the size of the various suffering of the Yemeni people, including fatal accidents that leave many victims.
Also the economic situation is still deteriorating and heading towards an unprecedented catastrophe , especially in light of the low exchange rate of the Yemeni riyal and high prices of food.
The UN official pointed out that the international donors pledged at the international conference on Yemen which was organized by the United Nations in cooperation with Saudi Arabia early this month, pledged to pay only $1.35 billion this year, including new financing of $700 million, two times less than last year's figure.
The available funds are not sufficient to ensure the continuity of the UN relief programs in Yemen.
Lockook explained that this shortage has resulted in stopping the payment of incentive bonuses to about ten thousand employees working on the front lines of the battle against the COVID-19 in Yemen.
He added that clean water and supply programs that benefit four million Yemeni people will be closed within the few next weeks if the problem is not solved there.
Moreover, by August the United Nations may shut down famine control programs, while periodic food for five million children in Yemen has not been provided, in addition to the closure of a broader health care program for 19 million Yemenis.
He said that the world have never seen such a dire situation in Yemen where the acute economic crisis coincides with a drastic reduction in remittances (from Yemenis working abroad), and a significant reduction in donor support, amidst the devastating pandemic of the Coronavirus.
He continued to say today, the world stands before a difficult choice, which is either to support the humanitarian response in Yemen and to help make room for a sustainable political settlement, or to continue to see Yemen falling from the edge of the abyss.
Follow the latest news on Google News
