A new flight of the EU humanitarian airlift took off from Liege (Belgium) for Yemen on Thursday 23 July with 220 tonnes of medical supplies and other essential goods to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, the European Commission announced. The flight is a result of cooperation between Sweden and the EU.
70 million euros in humanitarian aid has also been made available for the most vulnerable Yemeni populations, bringing this aid to 115 million euros in 2020.
The EU humanitarian airlift overcomes the logistical difficulties and restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. It will operate to Yemen until the beginning of August.
“I urge all parties in conflict to respect their international obligation to grant unhindered access to impartial humanitarian aid organisations so that they can help the people of Yemen”, said European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, quoted in a statement.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in a country where health services are collapsing and the economy is in deep crisis could trigger a famine.
EU-funded humanitarian actions in Yemen focus on emergency support to civilians affected by the conflict, including the response to acute malnutrition, food insecurity, natural disasters and epidemics.
Since 2015, the EU has allocated 896 million euros to Yemen, including 554 million euros in humanitarian aid. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)