Source: Prime Minister’s Office
Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak emphasized the government’s intention to redefine the pathways of partnership with UN agencies and international organizations, following a clear approach aimed at achieving efficiency and effectiveness in meeting its objectives to support the Yemeni people and alleviate the humanitarian suffering caused by the terrorist Houthi militia.
During a meeting on Thursday in the temporary capital, Aden, with Ms. Laila Ahady, the director of the World Food Programme office in Aden, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of evaluating the programme’s projects and interventions to ensure aid reaches those entitled to it, and to put an end to the exploitation of aid by the Houthi militia to finance its war against the Yemeni people. He highlighted the need to distribute aid according to needs, population distribution, and changes due to displacement waves from areas controlled by the Houthi militia, and to set priorities based on current needs in coordination with the government.
The meeting discussed the progress of the programme’s work in distributing food and cash assistance, response efforts in needed areas, mechanisms for identifying beneficiaries, addressing funding shortages, finding sustainable response mechanisms, and the transfer of programme funds through banks in Aden. Additionally, the challenges of working in Houthi-controlled areas were discussed, including their continuous violations against humanitarian workers, such as kidnappings and aid theft.
The UN official expressed full understanding of the observations made by the Prime Minister regarding the programme’s work and the commitment to strengthening partnership with the government to overcome any issues. She referred to the programme’s working mechanisms, beneficiary selection criteria, and the existing funding gap, along with efforts to cover it.
