Almotamar.net, Saba - The European Commission announced on Monday a funding package of €10 million to respond to urgent humanitarian needs exacerbated by a lack of support from the international community.

In a press release, the EC said that the funds will be used to provide shelter, water and sanitation, food and livelihood support, basic health care and protection.

‘’The money is directed to the most vulnerable among the 350,000 internally displaced persons, their host communities, and 170 000 foreign refugees in Yemen’’.

"Yemen is facing two major humanitarian challenges which are overstretching the country's resources," said Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva.

"Due to the recurrent conflict, we have about 350,000 internally displaced people in the north. There are also over 170,000 refugees, mainly from Somalia, who are trying to escape the instability in the Horn of Africa, scattered all around Yemen. The most vulnerable among both groups of population are largely dependent on international humanitarian aid as livelihood opportunities are scarce and the resources of host communities have been depleted and overstretched over the past few months".

The Commissioner continued "We are facing a situation, where humanitarian organisations are confronted with a shortage of funding that could force them to reduce or discontinue their operations. Urgent and immediate financial support is needed to ensure the continuation of the relief effort. I am therefore extremely glad that the European Commission is able to make such a substantial contribution to saving the lives of tens of thousands of people who are living in deplorable conditions in Yemen".

Provision of humanitarian aid to people displaced by the conflict is hampered by persistent insecurity even outside the former war zone in North Yemen. Part of the Commission funding will therefore be used to ensure the monitoring of the rapidly evolving security situation and to improve coordination among humanitarian actors and donors. Advocacy for the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence of humanitarian aid is also necessary to enlarge the humanitarian space.

The aid will be distributed in particular through UNHCR, Médecins du Monde, Care, Oxfam, ICRC, and WFP. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will also be supported to provide monitoring, coordination and advocacy.