Africans take Yemen to Geneva Global Launch

Representatives from Yemen attended the U.N.'s Global Launch for the 2010 Consolidated Humanitarian Appeals in order to address the country's humanitarian needs, on Monday.


The Yemeni delegation to the launch event was spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security Affairs Rashad al-Alimi. Al-Alimi is also the Minister of Local Administration. Along with al-Alimi, the Minister of Public Health and Population, Abdul Karim Rasa'a, the permanent Yemeni envoy to the U.N. Headquarters, Ibrahim al-Adoufi, and other officials attended the event.


Yemen's participation in the Global Launch is especially relevant now, as the country faces a large influx of African refugees, as well as a steadily increasing number of internally displaced persons from the war with al-Houthis in the north.


Tuesday's meeting of the Consolidated Appeals Process will be devoted to discussing the humanitarian issues in Yemen and how to address them.
The participants will listen to a summary of the humanitarian issues in Yemen including the needs of the refugees from Africa and the war in Sa'adah, as well as the flood disaster victims from 2008.


The U.N. has previously said that Yemen needs $177 million in humanitarian aid.


In an aside to the Global Launch conference, Deputy Prime Minister al-Alimi met with John Holmes, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, to discuss possible U.N. aid to Yemen to assist the country in its efforts to support its refugees.


Moreover, he met with Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees Janet Lim.
The two discussed aspects of cooperation and coordination between Yemen and the UNHCR to improve the conditions of the African refugees and the war displaced people in north Yemen.


There are more than 60,000 refugees as the army continues to cleanse up the north of al-Houthi rebels, who have been fighting the troops since 2004.
The refugees were of those affected by the fresh confrontations that erupted in August this year.


Yemen also says that the number of the Africans who fled their Horn of Africa countries has exceeded 700,000 people, calling on the international community to help cope with their needs.


In 2008, torrential rains hit many parts of Yemen, with the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahara the worst hit. More than 90 people were killed and over 2,000 houses destroyed.


Losses were estimated at almost $1 billion, triggering calls to help Yemen rebuild the hit areas.

Source:yobserver.com/