UN Warns
7.6m at risk
from famine
UNITED NATIONS: The director of UN
humanitarian operations warned on Tues
day that 7.6 million people in conflict-torn Yemen face severe food shortages and are "one step" from famine. John Ging, who just returned from Yemen, told a news conference that there has been "a shocking fall off" in support from the donor community over the past few months for the millions of Yemenis who need food, clean water and basic health care. The UN appeal for USS1.8 billion (64 billion baht) to help more than 13 million Yemenis this year is just 16% funded, he said, despite Yemen being declared one of the UN's highest-level humanitarian emergencies. Mr Ging urged governments facing multiple demands for assistance not to forget Yemen. He said the United States, United Kingdom, European Commission and Japan had contributed to the 2016 appeal. The biggest change from 2015, Mr Ging said, was the absence of a contribution from Saudi Arabia which donated US$245 million to last year's UN appeal. He said the donor base for Yemen must be expanded, saying Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and many other countries were being contacted. He stressed that any contributions from parties to a conflict can't have strings attached. S A major focus of the UN humanitarian Summit in Istanbul next Weekishumanitarian financing, he said, because UN appeals which cover minimum needs are being less than 50% funded and new ways must be found to provide life-saving support, In the Yemen conflict, a Saudi-led, USbacked coalition supporting the internationally recognised governmentis battling Shia rebels known as-Houthis and their allies. The Houthis have held Yemen's capital, Sana'a, since September 2014, and their advance across the country brought the Saudi-led coalition into the War in March 2015. Mr. Ging said more than 6,000 people have been killed, more than 10 million Yemenis need basic health care and Over 7.6 million "are severely food insecure" - one step below the level of famine. AP