Calls for action on Yemeni crisis ahead of Friends of Yemen meeting

Chatham House, in partnership with humanitarian agencies in the UK, will hold a panel discussion ahead of the Friends of Yemen meeting to be held in London on 07 March. The event will bring together representatives from Yemeni civil society and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to discuss the priorities of Yemeni civil society organisations and strengthen the country’s partnership with the international community. Dr Abu-Bakr Al-Qirbi, Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Alistair Burt, Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and Mr Jamal Benomar, the United Nations’ Special Adviser on Yemen, will be speaking at the event. The Friends of Yemen, comprised of Arab Gulf countries, Western governments and other donor organisations pledged $7.9 billion (£5.25 bn) in September 2012 to support the government of Yemen in the transition. In February 2013, a further $200 million (£133m) was pledged, bringing the total funding pledges to $8.1 billion (£5.38 bn). However, according to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation in Yemen, only $1.76 billion (£1.17 bn) has been delivered. “Humanitarian needs in Yemen remain dire, and overcoming those needs means also focusing on Yemen’s longer term recovery. Both the immediate humanitarian needs and the longer term recovery will hinge on the pledged funds actually being delivered,” says Ali Tayeb, Country Director in Yemen at Mercy Corps. To better understand the local issues facing Yemeni society, The Humanitarian Forum Yemen carried out consultations across Yemen. The consultations highlighted the need for national reconciliation and improved security as the key drivers for change in 2013. Other findings included the need for promoting national dialogue and encouraging full participation of all segments of Yemeni civil society, which will be discussed at the panel discussion and Friends of Yemen meeting. “We need to ensure that the Yemeni voice is heard in London and across the globe for the benefit of Yemeni people. To accomplish this, we must work together with the international community and local humanitarian partners to meet the needs and hopes of local communities in Yemen,” says Dr Hany El Banna, Founder and President of The Humanitarian Forum. The panel discussion, titled ‘Friends of Yemen: Aid and Accountability’, is part of an ongoing effort to empower local civil society organisations, and encourage greater collaboration between donor organisations and NGOs from all over the world to effectively manage the delivery of aid to Yemen.