Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. It’s population is estimated at 29.3 million. According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization, there have been a total of 9, 245 conflict-related civilian deaths and 52, 807 injuries since the beginning of the conflict in 2014. Humanitarian aid experts say that the conflict in Yemen has come about as a result of human action. It is feared that the situation may become the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in human history.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), an estimated 22.2 million people in Yemen are now in need of humanitarian assistance, including 11.3 million who are in acute need. Moreover, an estimated 17.8 million are food insecure, while 8.4 million people are at risk of starvation. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are currently 2 million internally displaced people across Yemen.
On 3 April in Geneva, the OCHA and the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland convened a High-Level Pledging Event in Geneva for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, to support the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP). In 2018, the United Nations launched an international appeal for US$2.96 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 13.1 million people in Yemen. The Lithuanian representative, who attended the conference, announced Lithuania’s decision to allocate EUR 20, 000 for humanitarian aid in Yemen.
Since 2014, Lithuania has allocated EUR 65, 000 for humanitarian aid in Yemen, including this contribution. In 2018, Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs already allocated EUR 115, 000 in humanitarian aid for the United Nations Yemen Humanitarian Fund, Ukraine, Palestine refugees, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
