London, UK, March 17, 2022 — Tamuna Sabadze, IRC Yemen Country Director said:
“The IRC is deeply disappointed that donors failed to robustly fund the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen for the third straight year. 36 donors pledged a total of $1.3 billion at the conference, while the humanitarian response requires $4.27 billion, which means the plan is currently only 30% funded leaving a colossal $3 billion shortfall - this gap will cost lives. The UK has failed to restore its funding commitment after a 60% cut in its aid to Yemen last year. The consistent year-on-year underfunding has already resulted in cuts to lifesaving programs such as food distributions, health services, cash assistance, and education in Yemen, where over 23 million people are in need of critical humanitarian assistance.
Britain is an outlier compared to the substantial and welcome increase in pledges from the US and European Commission. The UK mustn't abandon the Yemeni people who are bearing the brunt of this war.
“Humanitarian support cannot replace a functioning economy. The UK must utilise all diplomatic tools and channels available to them to find a political solution to this crisis, including bringing warring parties into peace negotiations and ensure those responsible of violating International Humanitarian Law are held to account."