Local Editor
A group of five international organizations and charities issued a joint statement on the Yemen pledging conference in Geneva Tuesday welcoming the support of the donor countries for the humanitarian efforts. It also stressed its dependence on the latters for their continued funding.
The group, including Save the Children International, CARE International, Norwegian Refugee Council, International Rescue Committee and Oxfam, explained that the conference raised 2.6 billion US dollars but fell short of “the 4.2 billion US dollars that are needed to support an estimated 24 million people in Yemen -almost 80% of the population - who need humanitarian assistance in 2019, many of whom are hovering on the brink of famine.”
However, the organizations are not only asking for financial support, but also “desperately” need commitments from some of the countries present at the conference to allow unconditional access for humanitarian assistance and commercial imports to all parts of the country.
The statement urged world leaders to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and demanded “to hold to account those who disregard international law.”
“The countries selling arms to warring parties in Yemen need to stop these deals with immediate effect and put in place strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms, so that devastating weapons will no longer kill and injure civilians in Yemen,” the statement read. “Arms must stop flowing into Yemen and political negotiations need to be supported by all involved in this conflict.”
The organizations also called for a “country wide ceasefire, protection of humanitarian workers and an inclusive peace agreement.”
“Only an end to hostilities can truly end the suffering of the Yemeni people. They do not have the luxury to wait for peace any longer – they are dying every single day this war continues,” the five NGOs concluded the statement.
Source: Yemenwatch.net
