Norway increases aid to famine victims in Yemen

Yemen ShameA nurse weighs a malnourished boy at a malnutrition treatment center in Sanaa, Yemen. Photo: Reuters / Khaled Abdullah

Norway increases aid to the starving population in Yemen. Foreign Minister Brende denotes the situation in the war-torn country as catastrophic.

– The humanitarian situation in Yemen is catastrophic. 80 percent of the population need humanitarian aid and the situation is getting worse, says Brende.

Norway is increasing its humanitarian aid to the UN World Food Programme’s work in the country by 25 million.

– The war in Yemen hit civilians hard and brutal. There are enormous needs for food and humanitarian aid, says Brende.

According to the UN there are now 14 million people in Yemen dependent on food aid from abroad.

2 million people are malnourished in the country, and 370,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition.

– All sections of society are affected by the war and crisis, but the food security situation is particularly critical.

The UN has warned that the crisis is about to develop into famine, says Brende.

Norway has already allocated 60 million kroner in humanitarian aid to the country, most of which is earmarked for food security.

In additionto the UN World Food Program, aid has also been distributed through the Red Cross, Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today