Geneva, 3 November 2022 (TDI): The Deputy Minister for Planning and International Cooperation of Yemen, Dr. Nizar Bashaib, met the United Nations (UN) Undersecretary-General, the Coordinator of Nutrition Movement, Gerda Verburg, in Geneva.
The agenda of the meeting was to accelerate the international efforts to reduce the humanitarian issues going on in Yemen. The hunger crisis in the country was also discussed.
The meeting was also attended by Assistant Deputy Minister of Planning for the International Cooperation Sector Mansour Zaid.
The Minister added that there was an urgent need in doubling the efforts to alleviate the Yemeni’s humanitarian and food crisis.
He further said that it can be done by enhancing linkages between developmental and humanitarian interventions in the country, ensuring the sustainability of interventions.
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Mansour Zaid stressed the need to abide by the principles and rules mentioned in the nutrition movement. The meeting approved mechanisms for establishing trust among parties working in Yemen.
It ensured cooperation and integration between the government of Yemen and UN organizations, The resources to carry out the plan of promoting nutrition level, the children’s weakness plan, and outcomes of national dialogues of food systems were also discussed.
For her part, the UN Undersecretary said that her full support is to Yemen authorities. She added that the UN will provide supplies to Yemen in the upcoming future.
Hunger catastrophe in Yemen
According to a UN report, more than 17.4 million Yemenis are food insecure; an additional 1.6 million are expected to fall into emergency levels of hunger in the coming months.
There is a likelihood that the number of people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger, will increase fivefold, from 31,000 to 161,000, by 31 December.
UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell warned that “more and more children” were “going to bed hungry” in Yemen, emphasizing the long-term, negative impact on children.
“This puts them at increased risk of physical and cognitive impairment, and even death,” Russell added. “The plight of children in Yemen can no longer be overlooked. Lives are at stake.”
