Barran Press
Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Mubarak on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, emphasized the importance of the World Food Program (WFP) adhering to strict standards and preventing any interference or diversion of humanitarian aid. He stressed that the program should prioritize the needs of beneficiaries, particularly in areas controlled by the Houthi rebels.
During a meeting with the newly appointed WFP Representative in Yemen, Pierre Honore, in the temporary capital of Aden, Prime Minister Mubarak expressed his expectation that the new representative would prioritize these issues. He also assured the program of the government's full support and cooperation.
Mubarak commended the existing partnership between the government and the WFP, highlighting the ongoing efforts to strengthen it and overcome obstacles, including funding gaps. He assured that the government would work with its donor partners to ensure the program's continued service delivery and the reaching of aid to those in need.
The meeting discussed the WFP's upcoming work plan in Yemen, and the challenges it faces in Houthi-controlled areas, including the ongoing abductions and harassment of UN and international staff by the Houthis. The need for decisive action from the UN, international organizations, and the international community was emphasized.
The WFP representative expressed gratitude for the government's support and expressed commitment to working with the government to overcome challenges, ensuring the program's mandate fulfillment, mobilizing international support to address the funding gap, and guaranteeing aid delivery to those in need.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, along with UN organizations and international agencies, accuse the Houthis, designated as a terrorist group, of interfering in the distribution of humanitarian aid and diverting it for their war efforts.
On December 5, 2023, the WFP in Yemen announced the suspension of its general food assistance program in areas under Sana'a's control due to limited funding and a lack of agreement with Houthi authorities on a smaller program aligned with available resources for the most vulnerable households.
The UN program explained in a press release that this "difficult" decision, taken in consultation with donors, came after nearly a year of negotiations with the Houthis without reaching any results.
On December 31, 2018, the WFP demanded that the Houthis immediately cease diverting humanitarian food aid after evidence surfaced of this practice in Sana'a and other Houthi-controlled areas.
The program described this behavior as "stealing food from the mouths of the hungry" while children in Yemen die from starvation due to lack of food. "This is outrageous," the program declared. "This criminal behavior must stop immediately."