The situation in Yemen

Subject: The situation in Yemen

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in Yemen, 22.2 million people are in need of some kind of humanitarian or protection assistance, an estimated 17.8 million are food insecure (8.4 million severely so), 16 million lack access to safe water and sanitation, and 16.4 million lack access to adequate healthcare. The World Food Programme has called the situation ‘the world’s worst humanitarian crisis’.

Following its adoption of a EUR 30-million programme to support vulnerable communities suffering the effects of prolonged displacement in Yemen, can the Commission:

– Provide some more detailed information about what the money will be used for?

– Outline what other direct actions it will take in an effort to resolve humanitarian crises in 2019?

– Explain how it intends to ensure that the programme funds will not be misused?

Answer given by Mr Stylianides on behalf of the European Commission

(22 March 2019)

Given the worsening situation in Yemen, the Commission greatly increased its humanitarian funding to the crisis in 2018, reaching a total of EUR 118 million. In addition, during the Pledging Conference for Yemen held in Geneva on 26 February 2019, the EU announced its intention to provide additional EUR 162 million in humanitarian, development and recovery assistance during the course of 2019. Funds provide multi-sector life-saving assistance and protection to civilians directly affected by conflict and to those suffering from food insecurity, malnutrition, diseases and epidemics. Priority is given to areas with the highest concentration of needs: i) areas of active conflict and where people are trapped in conflict; ii) areas with large numbers of newly displaced people; and iii) areas with high levels of malnutrition, food insecurity or epidemics.

In addition to its financial support, the Commission is a leading actor advocating for the respect of humanitarian principles in Yemen. A range of coordinated actions with EU Members States, including diplomatic demarches, and with key humanitarian actors on the ground, have been undertaken since the escalation of the conflict in 2015, to address the key drivers of the crisis (namely, attacks against civilians and civilian objectives; de facto blockade of imports; lack of payment of public salaries; devaluation of national currency and obstruction of humanitarian work). In recent years, the Commission has also showed a continued commitment to improve humanitarian donor coordination.

Projects funded by the Commission’s humanitarian budget have a strong control mechanism and are subject to permanent monitoring and ex-ante and ex-post verification. All humanitarian agencies funded by the Commission in Yemen, including non- governmental organisations, United Nations Agencies and International Organisations, undergo a due diligence assessment prior to the disbursement of funds, giving us assurance of the capacity of the agency to manage the funds.