“Focus on assisting civilians living in Saudi-held areas”: President Sammad to humanitarian organizations
YemenExtra
M.A.
President Saleh Al-Samad received on Tuesday UN Resident Representative for Humanitarian Affairs Lisa Grand.
In the meeting, President Al-Sammad welcomed the new UN Resident Representative in Yemen and praised her confidence in taking this task in light of the difficult situation in Yemen, noting the efforts of former UN Representative Jimmy McGoldrick and his positive role in the United Nations programs that have conveyed the injustice and suffering of the Yemeni people to the world.
The President reviewed the difficulties faced by the Yemeni people due to the continued war and siege, which led to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, inflation, the interruption of salary payments and the control of the Saudi-led coalition forces on oil resources, airports, ports and vital ports, as well as the closure of the port of Hodeidah and Sana’a International Airport.
The meeting discussed the developments in the humanitarian situation in Yemen in light of the escalation of the coalition countries and their continuous targeting of civilians, the destruction of ports, roads and bridges, hindering the entry of humanitarian aid, basic needs, food and medicine shipments and the repercussions on the humanitarian aspect for citizens; aggravating their suffering.
He also expressed his hope that the organization will continue to work in accordance with an organized mechanism that will contribute to the arrival of humanitarian aid to all areas, especially where the Saudi-paid militias are based, stressing readiness to provide all facilities to international organizations working in Yemen, including the United Nations and its staff.
“You know the stability is present in the areas where the Yemeni army and Ansarullah are located, and the governorates are living in security, and you have to coordinate with the relevant parties to strengthen your movements and carry out your various tasks,” he added.
Moreover, he noted the necessity of focusing on priorities regarding the humanitarian aspect, and said, “We want to focus on the field and areas controlled by the coalition and its militias, which live in difficult situations and need your support in this aspect.”
The United Nations Resident Representative, Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator in Yemen, expressed her pleasure to meet with the President of the Supreme Political Council.
“I know the suffering of the Yemeni people as it is significant and we will do what we can. We are aware that the situation is difficult in Yemen,” she said.
She noted the need to strengthen aspects of coordination between official agencies and humanitarian organizations to enable them to expand the scope of humanitarian and relief assistance.
The meeting was attended by the heads of the local authority department in the Office of the President of the Republic Qassim Al-Houthi and the Political Department, Saqaf Al-Saqqaf, as well as Director of the Office of the Resident Representative Matthew Leslie.