Aden, Yemen, 3 August 2022 鈥 The 探花精选 (探花精选) welcomes the two month extension of the truce in Yemen, which remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world with over 20 million people in need of assistance.
Zeleke Bacha, 探花精选 Yemen Deputy Director of Operations, said:
鈥淭he extension of this truce is a positive development for the people of Yemen. The truce has seen civilian deaths resulting from airstrikes reach an all-time low. Reduced violence has allowed the delivery of aid to more people in need, and commercial flights from Sana鈥檃 have resumed, providing some respite to Yemenis and stimulating the local economy.
鈥淗owever, Yemenis still face desperate challenges. Food is increasingly unaffordable, as a result of rising unemployment and inflation. Over 45% of wheat imports come directly from Russia and Ukraine. It is essential that critical aid and essential supplies are able to reach people most in need.
鈥淭he 探花精选 calls for all parties to intensify negotiations toward an expanded and long-term truce agreement. We welcome on the opening of roads in Taiz, regular payment of civil servant salaries, and regular flows of fuel to the ports of Hodeidah. During these next two months of the truce, the 探花精选 calls on the international community to increase their financial commitments to the Humanitarian Response Plan, which is currently only 29% funded.鈥
The 探花精选 has been working in Yemen since 2012 and rapidly scaled our programming in 2015 to address greater humanitarian needs caused by the conflict. Despite the ongoing conflict and challenges it creates for operations, the 探花精选 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.