[25/08/2026 05:48]

ADEN – SABA
Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Nizar Basuhaib held talks Tuesday with the Deputy Country Director of the World Food Program (WFP) in Yemen Samantha Chatterjee on ways to expand the program's interventions to include nutrition projects and efforts to combat malnutrition.

Strengthen the humanitarian and food response amid the current repercussions were discussed.

The two sides reviewed the importance of diversifying WFP’s plans and multisectoral projects in line with the level of available funding and humanitarian priorities.

They also discussed ways to expand partnerships with donors and attract new funding to support priority programs particularly those aimed at combating malnutrition, in addition to WFP’s food and cash assistance interventions and preparations for a rapid response plan to address food needs in areas affected by ongoing events and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Dr. Basuhaib stressed that the current situation in the country requires directing WFP interventions toward the areas and groups most in need, in order to ensure the continuity of food and nutrition assistance and reduce the risks of malnutrition.

He also emphasized the need to expand partnerships with donors and mobilize resources to support priority humanitarian and development programmes.

For her part, the WFP Deputy Country Director expressed the program's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the government, developing its interventions in accordance with humanitarian needs and priorities, and continuing to support the emergency response in Yemen within the available capacities.

In a separate meeting, the Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation discussed with the Acting UNICEF Representative in Yemen Akhil Iyer efforts to strengthen joint coordination to combat malnutrition and improve access to safe water services.

The meeting addressed ways to mitigate the risks of contamination of unregulated well water and reduce its health impacts. The two sides also discussed the coordination secretariat’s plan to improve nutrition in Yemen (“SUN”), preparations for developing a nutrition response plan to address malnutrition in areas affected by humanitarian conditions, and future intervention priorities in Socotra Governorate in the field of combating malnutrition.

The Deputy Minister of Planning underscored the importance of UNICEF’s role in supporting projects and programmes related to children and mothers, stressing the need to prioritize interventions targeting children with special needs, orphans, and juveniles, as they are among the groups most in need of protection, care, and support in the country.

For his part, the Acting UNICEF Representative in Yemen affirmed the organization’s commitment to continuing to support national priorities in the nutrition sector, strengthening partnerships and coordination with government authorities to ensure that interventions reach those in need and improve the services provided to them.

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