March, 17 2022, 10:39am EDT
IRC reaction to Yemen 2022 pledging conference
Tamuna Sabadze, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Yemen Country Director said:
WASHINGTON
Tamuna Sabadze, International Rescue Committee (IRC) Yemen Country Director said:
"The IRC is deeply disappointed that donors failed to robustly fund the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen for the third straight year. 36 donors pledged a total of $1.3 billion at the conference, while the humanitarian response requires $4.27 billion, which means the plan is currently only 30% funded leaving a colossal $3 billion shortfall - this gap will cost lives. The consistent year-on-year underfunding has already resulted in cuts to lifesaving programs such as food distributions, health services, cash assistance, and education in Yemen, where over 23 million people are in need of critical humanitarian assistance.
"The substantial increase in pledges from the US and European Commission are welcome but more donors need to stand in solidarity with the Yemeni people who are bearing the brunt of this war.
"Humanitarian support cannot replace a functioning economy. Donors must utilize all diplomatic tools and channels available to them to find a political solution to this crisis, including bringing warring parties into peace negotiations and reinstating an accountability mechanism to hold those responsible for violations of International Humanitarian Law in Yemen to account."
The IRC has been working in Yemen since 2012 and rapidly scaled our programming in 2015 to address greater humanitarian needs caused by the conflict. While the ongoing conflict creates challenges for our operations, the IRC has maintained access to affected populations and continues to provide life-saving services, including treatment for malnutrition, healthcare, water and sanitation, cash assistance as well as case management services and education programming.
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.
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