European Commission increases humanitarian aid for Yemen crisis
This money will bring the Commission's total humanitarian support to the country to €52 million for 2015.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues to worsen, with over half of the population suffering from food insecurity and almost 30% facing severe food shortages. The country has been classified by the United Nations as a Level 3 emergency - the most severe, large-scale humanitarian crisis.
"The humanitarian catastrophe taking place in Yemen must remain at the forefront of our priorities. The ongoing conflict has caused a large number of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure including medical facilities. We are stepping up our support to help humanitarian agencies in the country provide life-saving assistance such as health care, water and sanitation, nutrition and food security" said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.
The extra funds announced today come in addition to the €37 million of humanitarian aid already made available by the European Commission earlier in 2015 to respond to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Background:
This transfer of emergency funds has been agreed by the European Parliament and is expected to be formally adopted by the Council this week.
Due to the ongoing armed conflict over the last nine months, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Government institutions are no longer able to deliver basic services to people in need, such as simple healthcare and nutrition services, water and electricity supply. The lack of fuel is hampering the processing and transportation of food, and the import of essential goods including food and medicine.
Large-scale internal displacement is taking place throughout the country as a result of the conflict. Humanitarian organisations estimate that 21.2 million people (82% of the total population) are in need of humanitarian assistance, 14.4 million people are suffering from food insecurity, 14.1 million are in need of health care and 19.3 million lack access to water and sanitation. 14 million people are living without adequate access to basic health care and 70% of the population is unable to meet its basic water and sanitation needs.
Links:
European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department:
Yemen factsheet:
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/yemen_en.pdf
Statement by EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on the killing of two members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff in Yemen (September 2)
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5587_en.htm
Statement on the bombings in Yemen of port facilities in Hodeida (August 20)
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5517_en.htm
Press release: EU gives €12 million in new humanitarian aid for the crisis in Yemen and its impact in the Horn of Africa (August 5)
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5473_en.htm
Yemen-EU relations on EEAS website:
http://eeas.europa.eu/yemen/index_en.htm
IP/15/6311
Press contacts:
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-Alexandre POLACK (+32 2 299 06 77)
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-Daniel PUGLISI (+32 2 296 91 40)
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