Spokesman of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr. Samer Aljetaily denied the existence of any shortages in providing humanitarian aid to Yemen.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said 2018 witnessed a surplus in funding, predicting a similar outcome for 2019. The surplus covers all Yemeni regions without exception.
The World Food Program had revealed that it has provided aid to some 12.4 million people throughout Yemen in August, including nine million in regions controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
This is the highest figure achieved by the agency since the eruption of the crisis in Yemen.
Aljetaily said: “This is the goal KSRelief has been seeking to achieve since its establishment. It wants to reach the greatest number of people as possible.”
“We were supposed to reach this figure years ago had effective monitoring and follow-up mechanisms been in place,” he revealed.
“Developing work operations, seizing the initiative and using all possible means of pressure, whether political or humanitarian, will lead to better results on the ground and improved humanitarian conditions,” he stressed.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been the greatest humanitarian donors in Yemen, he added.
Moreover, he accused the Houthis of seeking to “starve the Yemeni people” and exploit the humanitarian file to violate United Nations and international resolution and impede the return of government authority over Yemen.
Pressure is constantly being exerted on the Houthis by the UN and relief agencies to achieve better humanitarian results, said Aljetaily.
KSRelief aims to reach the greatest number of people throughout Yemen without discrimination, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“The ball is now in the court of UN and international agencies to reach as many people as possible, to develop their mechanisms and cover all gaps in their work,” he stated.
