The European Commission has adopted a package providing €79m in humanitarian aid to support communities, public services and private growth in Yemen.
Yemen has been ravaged by violent civil war since 2015, in what the United Nations describes as ‘the world’s largest humanitarian crisis’. The country has seen unprecedented levels of poverty, hunger and widespread preventable diseases; while its economy has remained stagnant for around five years. Since the war broke out, the EU has deployed €440m in humanitarian aid to Yemen; as well as €323m in development support to communities affected by the crisis.
The support offered by new humanitarian aid package will be focused on two main themes. Funding will be allocated towards improving public services and the provision of basic necessities, including shoring up healthcare services; improving access to food, sanitation and clean drinking water; waste management; and education and training facilities. Support will be extended to local councils and other community bodies in order to enable them to collect revenue more effectively and promote appropriate public spending.
The package also includes provision for private sector investment, aimed at stimulating economic development and providing increased opportunities for Yemeni residents to secure their livelihoods. The private sector aid, which will focus particularly on supporting smaller economic actors, will allow business operators in sectors such as agribusiness to shore up their resilience to economic losses and sustain their incomes in the long term.
Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said: “Yemen is a country torn by conflict and ravaged by violence, but it is also a country full of resilience and entrepreneurship. In addition to the EU’s humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen, investing in development is crucial. Today’s package worth €79 million will support health services, access to water, food and education, as well as improve the livelihoods of people.”
