[02/06/2026 06:52]

MARIB – SABA
Marib Deputy Governor Dr. Abd-Rabu Miftah has emphasized the vital role played by the World Food Program (WFP) in alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable families amid the continuing deterioration of humanitarian, economic, and living conditions.

His remarks came during a meeting Tuesday with Acting Head of the WFP Office in Marib, Happy Good John, discussing the humanitarian situation in the governorate and review the level of humanitarian interventions being implemented by the organization across various sectors.

Dr. Miftah noted that Marib continues to receive new waves of displaced people on a daily basis, according to reports issued by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This has significantly increased humanitarian needs and placed additional pressure on local authorities and essential public services.

He stressed that these circumstances require an expansion of humanitarian assistance and a more effective response to both emergency and development needs.

The deputy governor called on the World Food Program and humanitarian partners to intensify their efforts and expand both operational and development interventions to promote recovery opportunities and improve living conditions for the most vulnerable groups.

He reaffirmed the local authority’s readiness to provide all necessary support and facilitation to ensure the success of humanitarian programs in the governorate.

He also stressed the importance of addressing funding gaps affecting humanitarian programs and reviewing the cases of eligible families that were excluded during previous verification processes to ensure aid reaches those most in need.

Dr. Miftah further highlighted the importance of adopting the “Healthy Kitchens” model within school feeding programs in the governorate as an effective solution for improving children's nutrition and enhancing educational outcomes. He also emphasized the need to continue livelihood-support projects for small-scale farmers to strengthen self-reliance and achieve sustainable recovery.

For his part, Acting Head of the WFP Office in Marib, Happy Good John, reviewed the organization's activities and programs in the governorate, including emergency response interventions, nutrition programs, emergency school feeding initiatives, and sustainable development projects supporting recovery efforts.

He pointed to significant funding shortfalls that are limiting the program’s ability to expand emergency responses in line with the growing humanitarian needs in Marib, particularly among internally displaced populations.

He called for the mobilization of additional financial resources to ensure the continuity of humanitarian programs and broaden their reach.

He explained that the organization faces major funding challenges that restrict its capacity to expand humanitarian assistance to meet increasing needs, especially amid ongoing displacement and worsening humanitarian conditions.

He added that the WFP is working with its partners to secure the necessary support and maintain its humanitarian interventions.

Happy Good John reaffirmed the World Food Programme’s commitment to continuing support for the most vulnerable groups in Marib and expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support provided by local authorities, as well as the facilitation measures that have contributed to the efficient and effective implementation of humanitarian programs and activities.

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