U.S. Provides Additional Humanitarian Assistance to Yemen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2012
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
The United States is providing an additional $6.5 million in humanitarian assistance to help those most in need in Yemen. This new assistance brings the total U.S. Government humanitarian assistance to nearly $80 million in Fiscal Year 2012. This assistance includes protection, water and sanitation, emergency food aid, basic health services, and medical and other relief supplies to help over 550,000 internally displaced persons, over 215,000 refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa, conflict victims, and other vulnerable populations.
"Almost half the population in Yemen is not getting enough to eat, and nearly 1 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, which increases their vulnerability to a range of illness and preventable disease," said Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at the U.S. Agency for International Development. "This additional assistance from the U.S. will provide clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education and materials to help prevent the spread of illness."
Assistant Administrator Lindborg visited Sana'a June 1-3, 2012. During her visit, she also participated in the joint delegation of international donors and organizations including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This joint delegation trip puts into action the historic cooperation agreement on humanitarian issues and disaster response signed by the OIC and USAID on March 15, 2012 at the White House. Ms. Lindborg stated, "Especially now, at this pivotal time for the region, the international community must come together to help the people of Yemen build a foundation for longer-term development towards a unified, stable, democratic, and prosperous country worthy of their struggle."
Lindborg visited a therapeutic feeding center for malnourished children at a hospital in Sana'a, met with Yemeni government officials, including President Hadi, several ministers, and the National Dialogue Liaison Committee, as well as groups of humanitarian organization representatives and civil society activists. In all of her meetings, she reiterated U.S. commitment to supporting Yemen's transition through humanitarian aid as well as development and economic support.
The United States provided $115 million in civilian assistance to Yemen in FY 2011 and plans to provide at least $118 million in FY 2012.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.
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