Yemen, WFP discuss cooperation in development fields

 Yemen and the World Food Programme (WFP) discussed in Rome on Tuesday issues of mutual cooperation in development fields and WFP-funded projects in the country.On the sidelines of his participation in the first session of the WFP Executive Board being held in the Italian capital Rome, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Mohammed al-Sa'adi held talks with the WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin over the challenges posed by the hike of the number of refugees coming from the Horn of Africa to Yemen, which are estimated at over 1 million, in addition to the resultant security and economic burden on the country.The Minister reviewed the developments in the humanitarian situation in Yemen and the escalating number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and cases of food insecurity due to the internal conflicts and rising prices of food and energy.Al-Sa'adi indicated to the WFP's Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation in Yemen worth of $491 million, which will be presented to the Executive Board for approval, hoping that the Programme's projects to cover the humanitarian urgent cases and areas of long-term sustainable development.Cousin stressed that Yemen is among the WFP's current priorities and plans, saying that the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation in Yemen reflects the international community's interest in the humanitarian situation in Yemen.The Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation covers many aspects of development and aims to enhance food security and nutrition, and build resilience among the crisis-affected people, the WFP Executive Director said.She praised the conclusion of the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in Yemen, pinning hope that such achievement to be reflected positively in the economic and development conditions in Yemen.Earlier, the Minister held talks with representatives of donor countries to the WFP's projects in Yemen over the developments in the humanitarian situation in Yemen.Al-Sa'adi briefed them on the problems occurred recently and led to deteriorating the food security in Yemen, including the high numbers of IDPs, who were affected by the internal conflicts and security problems, besides the spread of desert locusts that have wiped out most of the agricultural crops and productivity in some areas in the country.