Virtual High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen
“Yemen is now in imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades. In the absence of immediate action, millions of lives may be lost. … [We] risk a tragedy not just in the immediate loss of life but with consequences that will reverberate indefinitely into the future.”
– António Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
“Right now, millions of Yemenis are looking to the world for help. The good news is the world knows exactly what is needed to prevent catastrophe: pay for the aid operation, ensure access for aid workers, support the economy and – most of all – end the war. The only question is: what will the world choose to do?”
– Mark Lowcock
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains the worst in the world. Years of conflict, economic decline and institutional collapse have created enormous humanitarian needs in all sectors. The risk of large-scale famine has never been more acute. Assessments confirm that more than 16 million people will go hungry this year, and nearly 50,000 are already living in famine-like conditions. At the same time, Yemen continues to grapple with the effects of cholera, COVID-19, forced displacement, protection risks and other serious challenges.
The Governments of Sweden and Switzerland and the United Nations invited Member States to participate in the pledging event at the Ministerial level and to contribute generously to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, Country-Based Pooled Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund for 2021 and beyond. Other partners participated at the Principal level.
The event took place on Monday, 1 March 2021, and was streamed on http://webtv.un.org/.
Announcement Results
| Financial announcements (US$) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total amount | Number of announcements | Announcements for the Yemen Humanitarian Fund |
| 1.67 B | 37 | 17 |
| Country | Announcements (US$) | Country | Announcements (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 430.00 M | Ireland2 | 6.12 M |
| Germany2 | 244.80 M | Italy | 6.12 M |
| United Arab Emirates | 230.00 M | Luxembourg2 | 2.26 M |
| United States | 191.00 M | Morocco | 1.00 M |
| United Kingdom | 123.23 M | Iceland1,2 | 759 K |
| European Commission | 116.28 M | Slovenia2 | 147 K |
| Canada2 | 56.01 M | Lithuania | 124 K |
| Japan | 49.00 M | Croatia | 100 K |
| CERF | 40.00 M | Malaysia2 | 100 K |
| Sweden2 | 31.55 M | Philippines2 | 100 K |
| Norway2 | 23.93 M | Bulgaria | 61 K |
| Netherlands2 | 22.03 M | Estonia | 61 K |
| Denmark2 | 20.72 M | Monaco | 61 K |
| Korea, Rep. of2 | 19.22 M | Brazil | 50 K |
| Switzerland2 | 15.49 M | Brunei Darussalem | 50 K |
| France | 13.46 M | Greece | 37 K |
| Kuwait1 | 10.00 M | Malta2 | 37 K |
| Austria | 7.34 M | Cyprus2 | 25 K |
| Belgium1,2 | 6.12 M |
1 In addition to the pledge for 2021, these donors announced pledges for 2022 and beyond: Belgium (6.12 M), Iceland (1.5 M) and Kuwait (10.0 M).
2 Made announcement of support to the Yemen Humanitarian Fund.
Programme
1 March 2020
New York Time
7.15 a.m. - 8.30 a.m.
High-level Side Event: “The Silent Emergency: What Can We Do to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition in Yemen?” [Web Stream - Concept Note – Programme]
8.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.
Focal Points to connect online platform to ensure connectivity
9.00 a.m. - 9.30 a.m.
Segment One: Opening Session
- Moderated by Mr. Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
- Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Statement by H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Vice President of Switzerland and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- Statement by H.E. Ms. Ann Linde, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs
- Statement by Mr. David Gressly, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen
Segment Two: Statements and Pledge Announcements by Participating Delegates
- Moderated by Mr. Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, H.E. Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Vice President of Switzerland and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and H.E. Mr. Per Olsson Fridh, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs [10 speakers each]
- Speakers’ List to be determined (3-minute speaking time)
Segment Three: Closing Session
- Closing Remarks of behalf of the cohosts by Mr. Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Press Conference
- Moderated by Ms. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
- Moderated by Mr. Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
- H.E. Mr. Per Olsson Fridh, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
- Mr. Manuel Bessler, Delegate of the Federal Council and Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid
Conference documents
Written Statements
| UN Secretary-General’s opening remarks to High-Level Pledging Event for Yemen [as delivered] |
| UN Entities and Partners | |
| ICVA | Mr. Ignacio Packer, Executive Director |
| INTERSOS | Ms. Evelyn Lernout, Head of Mission Yemen |
| IOM | Antonio Vitorino, Director General, International Organization for Migration |
| Nahda Makers Organization | Mr. Mohammed Alsayed, Executive director, Nahda Makers Organization |
| OHCHR | Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| Social Development Hodeidah Girls Foundation | Ms. Dalia Qasem, Director for Social Development Hodeidah Girls Foundation |
| UNICEF | Ms. Henrietta H. Fore Executive Director of UNICEF |
Videos
| Organization | Speaker | Link |
|---|---|---|
| FAO | Mr. Qu Dongyu Director-General of FAO |
https://youtu.be/LHuWjAr5UQ0 |
| Geneva Call | Mr. Hichem Khadhraoui Director of Operations at Geneva Call |
https://youtu.be/U_sV92kY0N8 |
| INTERSOS | Ms. Evelyn Lernout Head of Mission Yemen |
https://youtu.be/FxVL6Y4k87o |
| ICVA |
Mr. Ignacio Packer Mr. Abdu Ahmed Al-Qubati |
https://youtu.be/hvEn07PP-nw |
| IOM | Mr. António Vitorino Director General of IOM |
https://youtu.be/Iijhqz4a1HE |
| IRC | Mr. David Miliband President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee |
https://youtu.be/iEwJt5d_FCs |
| Islamic Relief | Ms. Najat Elhamri Head of Region for the Middle East and North Africa, for Islamic Relief Worldwide |
https://youtu.be/p9_daHhm6Cc |
| Nahda Makers Organization | Mr. Mohammed Hussien Al-Sayed Executive director of Nahda Makers Organization |
https://youtu.be/vGUxaHuTy_8 |
| OHCHR | Ms Michelle Bachelet High Commissioner for Human Rights |
https://youtu.be/UV714iuzFlY |
| Oxfam | Ms. Abby Maxman President and CEO of OXFAM America |
https://youtu.be/JKDoqHyg9fs |
| Social Development Hodeidah Girls Foundation | Ms. Dalia Qasem Director for Social Development Hodeidah Girls Foundation |
https://youtu.be/pWqmf3AdpFQ |
| UN-Habitat | Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif Executive Director, UN-Habitat |
https://youtu.be/l5xqM2KCKM4 |
| UNDP | Mr. Achim Steiner Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme |
https://youtu.be/3ozfGZmdbHE |
| UNFPA | Dr. Natalia Kanem UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund |
https://youtu.be/24_bzvMYVBQ |
| UNHCR | Mr. Filippo Grandi United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
https://youtu.be/braqKjMgoFE |
| WHO | Dr. Tedros Adhanom Director-General of WHO |
https://youtu.be/4T646IRIjuE |
Contacts
Mr. Karim Saba
saba@un.org
+1 917 913 6078
Ms. Lana Hamdeh
lana.hamdeh@un.org
+1 703 501 0437
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