EU to increase humanitarian aid to Yemen

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) announced Monday that it is increasing its humanitarian funding to Yemen with an additional 5 million euro due to the persistent instability, drought and poverty.
The decision brings the total EU humanitarian funding to Yemen to almost 60 million euro. Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said in press statements that when she visited Yemen 11 months ago, the country was already on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
"Since then the situation has worsened and hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, have too little to eat and are victims of violence," she said.
"At a critical moment for the country and its people we are boosting our relief aid and we will continue our support to the most vulnerable Yemeni families notably through the provision of food and health care," she added.
The additional European funding will help to provide assistance and protection to people affected by armed clashes and political turmoil as well as victims of the ongoing food crisis and refugees from the Horn of Africa, mostly from Somalia.