Local Editor
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Monday called on international benefactors to step up their financial support ahead of the Yemen donor conference.
“This is the time for donors to step up, not to look away. Ahead of tomorrow’s donor pledging conference, the IRC is calling for a rapid increase in funding to frontline agencies to help us scale up the COVID-19 response and continue to provide the humanitarian assistance that we know saves lives,” David Miliband, IRC President and CEO.
Yemen’s health care system is already collapsing due to five years of brutal Saudi-led war. More strain from the coronavirus pandemic will only exacerbate the situation further.
“Yemen has the lowest testing ability of any country where we work, with a case fatality ratio of 24.7%, almost four times the global average. COVID-19 cases were likely spreading and misdiagnosed in February, and now, we are seeing the results of a war-torn country’s inability to stop a global pandemic from wreaking even more havoc on its people,” Miliband warned.
The IRC chief condemned the continued bombing and shelling, calling on international actors like the US, UK and France to continue to push for “an immediate nationwide ceasefire and return to political negotiations to end the war.”
Source: Yemenwatch.net
