Canada responds to critical humanitarian needs in Yemen with new funding

News Release

January 19, 2018 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Yemen and its humanitarian impact on civilians, particularly women and children, who continue to bear the brunt of the war that began in 2015. Thousands of civilians have been killed as a result of violence, disease or famine, and millions in the country are deprived of food, water, medicine and other life-saving supplies.

In response to the recently launched emergency appeals requesting humanitarian assistance funding for 2018, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced that Canada will provide an initial $12.1 million to respond to the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected people in Yemen.

This new funding will be allocated to the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund. This assistance to humanitarian partners will help save lives, alleviate suffering among the Yemeni people and address the particular needs of women and girls, who are often disproportionately affected in times of conflict.

Quotes

“Sadly, the conflict continues in Yemen, and its people—particularly women and children—continue to suffer greatly. Canada remains committed to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance support to our partners to help the Yemeni people.”

- Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

Quick Facts

  • In March 2017, Canada announced $34 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected people in Yemen, especially women and children. An additional $7.7 million for Yemen was announced in August 2017 as part of the Famine Relief Fund.

  • Today’s announcement brings Canada’s total humanitarian assistance committed for Yemen since March 2017 to $65 million for 2017 and 2018.

  • Canada is also supporting humanitarian partners in Yemen through its contributions to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). On January 5, 2018, the OCHA approved an allocation of $50 million, the largest ever by the CERF, to support the humanitarian response in Yemen.

  • Emergency appeals are typically launched by UN agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-governmental organizations to request humanitarian assistance funding in order to respond to humanitarian emergencies.

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