[03/08/2017 06:06]

RIYADH-SABA
King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Activities and World Health Organization signed Thursday an agreement for fighting cholera in Yemen.

The agreement, worth USD 33.7 million, is within Saudi Kingdom's efforts for supporting Yemen fighting the epidemic.

Signing the agreement comes in framework of Saudi efforts for alleviating suffering of the Yemeni people following the former USD 66.7 million pledged by the kingdom for fighting cholera, said Saudi Royal Court Advisor and the General Observer of King Salman Center Abdullah al-Rabi'a.

"This is part of a big package of projects and programs provided by the Kingdom to Yemen for limiting suffering of people," he said. "In this occasion, we call our partners in the World Health Organization and UNICEF to exert more efforts to implement the programs for facing the epidemic."

Al-Rabi'a, who called the International Community and donors to support humanitarian initiatives for fighting the epidemic, urged the United Nations to put an end to rebel militias' looting food aid and medicines allocated to Yemeni people.

"We want active arrival to all Yemeni governorates and the international organizations must not be remain under armed militias," said Minister of Local Administration and Chairman of the Supreme Relief Committee Abdulraqeeb Fath.

"We call for decentralization in relief and humanitarian activities."

He emphasized that humanitarian organization should work in collaboration with the government, noting that the Kingdom has pledged of providing USD 150 million in Geneva Conference for Supporting Yemen.

He called on UN organizations to better use the funds provided by donors and in accordance with clear and transparent mechanisms for relief and humanitarian projects so that all needy people have access to them.

---