On 3 April 2018, the United Nations and the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland convened a High-Level Pledging Event in Geneva for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, to support the humanitarian response in Yemen and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.

International donors pledged more than US$2 billion to support the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to millions of people in Yemen. “This pledging conference represents a remarkable success of international solidarity to the people of Yemen,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Humanitarian resources are very important, but they are not enough. We need unrestricted access everywhere inside Yemen and we need all the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians. Above all, we need a serious political process to lead to a political solution.”

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners, in 2018, launched an international appeal for US$2.96 billion to provide neutral and impartial life-saving assistance and protection to people in Yemen. Support to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) along with contributions to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund and unearmarked core support to UN agencies and humanitarian partners, is the most effective and efficient way to ensure a coordinated and principled humanitarian response, as the plan is evidence-based, strategic and prioritized. Unearmarked core support to UN agencies and humanitarian partners and to the Central Emergency Response Fund is also crucial to ensure predictable and timely funding to the crisis.

Background

Nearly three years of armed conflict has exacerbated the poverty and vulnerabilities that were entrenched in Yemen before 2015 and the country is now facing the worst manmade humanitarian crisis in the world. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate with casualties caused by fighting, food insecurity, displacement, collapsing basic services including health care and education, outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria, and economic decline. A record 22.2 million people, or 75 percent of the population, are now in need of humanitarian assistance – 3.4 million more than last year.

Yemen is one of the most food insecure countries in the world. Vulnerable populations in one out of three districts are facing heightened risk of famine and require integrated response efforts to avert a looming catastrophe. It is estimated that about 17.8 million people in Yemen are food insecure, including 8.4 million people are severely food insecure and at risk of starvation.

As the situation worsens day by day, we renew our call on all parties to cease hostilities and engage in finding a political solution that will end the conflict. We must act together to save lives and reduce human suffering. The international community and parties to the conflict need to support the immediate scale up of humanitarian assistance, including the provision of much-needed resources and facilitate unimpeded access to all parts of the country. It is time to act swiftly and in a concerted effort to support Yemen to curtail the possible famine that looms over it and help avert acute malnutrition, which is affecting the development of a whole generation.

Information on Co-Hosts

• Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
• Vice President of Switzerland and Minister of the Federal Department of Finance, His Excellency Mr. Ueli Maurer
• Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Climate, Her Excellency Ms. Isabella Lövin

Objectives

1. Raise awareness of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Advocate for urgent action by the international community to address growing and acute humanitarian needs.
2. Mobilise urgent resources in support of the humanitarian response in Yemen, highlighting the inter-agency 2018 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) as the most effective, efficient and strategic investment to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection to 13.1 million people across the country.
3. Highlight the capacity and commitment of humanitarian partners to meet all targets in the 2018 YHRP.
4. Promote respect for international humanitarian law and human rights and advocate for protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel, safe and unimpeded access and accountability.
5. Promote complementarity between immediate life-saving humanitarian action and efforts to bolster essential public institutions, improve access to livelihoods and strengthen community resilience.
6. Advocate for an urgent cessation of hostilities and a political solution for Yemen.

Funding updates