(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
GENEVA, 25th April, 2017 (WAM) -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated US$150 million to support humanitarian operations of its King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Works in Yemen.
The donation was announced by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeaa, Advisor to the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the center during the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, which was held today in Geneva, Switzerland, the state Saudi Press Agency, SPA, reported.
In early 2017, Saudi Arabia committed $100 million for the Riyadh-based relief centre. Overall, Saudi Arabia, has provided $8.2 billion in aid for Yemen since April 2015, he noted.
Al Rabeaa stressed that the Yemeni people are suffering from siege, looting of property, robbery and seizure of aid ships and food assistance by the rebel militias who had already been against legitimacy.
In April 2015, Saudi Arabia promised $274 million to the UN, meeting its first flash appeal for help for Yemen in full, the Saudi official noted.
At the Yemen aid conference, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries on to step up life-saving assistance to help prevent a looming famine in Yemen.
"Yemen today is experiencing a tragedy of immense proportions," the UN chief told country representatives.
"We are witnessing the starving and the crippling of an entire generation," he said, adding that Yemen is gripped by "the world's largest hunger crisis".
The need for humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians in Yemen has never been greater, Guterres said while lamenting that "Our humanitarian appeal for 2017 is $2.1 billion and only 15 per cent has been met until the present moment." WAM/ MMYS
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