03/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission announced on Wednesday 3 June that it will provide €70 million in humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Yemen to avert the risk of famine and a worsening of the humanitarian crisis. Of this aid, €40 million is intended to stem the risk of the spread of coronavirus in a country where years of conflict have undermined the health system. The partner organisations of ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid) are implementing contingency plans and control measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In a statement, Janez Lenarčič, the Commissioner for Crisis Management, said that “all restrictions and interference violating humanitarian principles have to be lifted.” As a result of the pandemic, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service is partially prohibited from operating, further restricting humanitarian partners’ capabilities. (AN)