UNHCR and KSRelief Sign a Joint Agreement Worth US$20 Million to Humanitarian Response Plan in Yemen

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) signed on Thursday, 17th September 2020 a joint agreement worth US$20 million in support of internally displaced persons in Yemen. 

The agreement was co-signed in a virtual ceremony by Khaled Khalifa, Representative of UNHCR to the GCC Countries and Senior Advisor on Islamic Philanthropy, and H.E. Eng. Engineer Ahmed Al Baiz, Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programs at KSRelief.

The contribution will support UNHCR’s programmes under the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan 2020 in the areas of shelter, non-food-items and camp coordination for internally displaced Yemenis, in addition to efforts to combat COVID-19 in the country. An estimated 800,000 internally displaced persons, returnees and host community members in Yemen, will benefit from this donation.

H.E. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, General Supervisor of KSRelief and Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court affirmed the Kingdom’s pioneering role in the field of global relief and humanitarian work, adding that Saudi Arabia has always sought to stand with people in need, especially in Yemen.

“This agreement comes as the humanitarian crisis in Yemen deepens further exacerbated by the current global pandemic. This generous contribution will allow UNHCR to continue with its support to the most vulnerable people in Yemen with life-saving aid such as shelter and basic needs for those most in need,” said Khaled Khalifa. “UNHCR is grateful for this  contribution and the strategic partnership and close cooperation with the government of Saudi Arabia and KSRelief, a partnership which will strengthen our response to pressing humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable forcibly displaced people, including refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide.” he added.

This agreement brings the total contributions of Saudi Arabia to UNHCR to US$ 31 million in 2020, and more than US$ 304 million in the past ten years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Raefah Makki

Campaign and Advocacy Officer in MENA

+971 50 813 0594

makkir@unhcr.org

Ola Anan

Public Information Associate

+971 (50) 621 3660

anan@unhcr.org