They did not harvest half. A donors' conference, organized by Saudi Arabia and the UN, was held on Tuesday June 2 in a virtual fashion. The objective: to collect 2.4 billion dollars [or 2.14 billion euros] in international humanitarian aid, while humanitarian organizations are concerned about the rapid spread of the virus in Yemen, after more than one half decade of war.

The conference ended when pledges amounted to only $ 1.35 billion. 

"A total of $ 1.35 billion [approximately € 1.2 billion] in pledges has been announced from a wide range of donors for the humanitarian response in Yemen, including the fight against Covid-19 "A UN spokesperson told reporters.

Riyadh advanced $ 500 million [448 million euros]. The United Kingdom has promised 201 million [180 million euros], while Germany has offered 140 million [125.5 million]. 

"A race against time"

In a statement, the Saudi government estimated that "$ 2.3 billion [€ 2 billion] is needed to cover emergency needs in Yemen in multiple sectors, including medical, food and housing".

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock spoke of the figure of $ 2.4 billion, of which $ 180 billion was spent on the fight against Covid-19.

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has intervened in Yemen at the head of a military coalition which supports the Yemeni government against the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran. This coalition is accused of multiple bribes against civilians in Yemen.

Aid workers are facing a "race against time" to prevent a worsening of the double crisis in the country, the poorest of the Arabian Peninsula, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.

With AFP

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