UN and EU officials arrive to Yemen to address humanitarian crisis

[News_Editor]

UN and EU officials arrive to Yemen to address humanitarian crisis

2011-01-14 09:12:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- Officials from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) and the European Commission on Thursday arrived to Yemen in a joint mission to address the humanitarian crisis there.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres and the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva initiated a three-day visit on an unprecedented mission to Yemen.

Both officials will review the operations assisting internally displaced Yemeni civilians in the north of the country and humanitarian challenges posed by the continuing influx of Somali refugees crossing the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

"Yemen faces rising humanitarian risks in result of years of internal conflicts and the massive influx of refugees from the Horn of Africa," said Commissioner Georgieva. "Operational conditions for humanitarian organizations, including access and international assistance needs to be scaled up to match the growing demand for food, shelter, health services and protection."

Georgieva and Guterres will gather first-hand and updated information on the progress of such efforts as well as on the most pressing needs in the region. The mission intends to take measures to continue stabilization in the situation in Yemen.

Both commissioners will visit northern Yemen to witness the suffering of approximately 300,000 internally displaced civilians stemming from the constant conflicts since 2004. They will meet with representatives of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.

In addition, Georgieva and Guterres will meet with top-ranking government officials. It is expected that the commissioners will demand authorities a safer and broader humanitarian access to the northern areas which were affected the most by the armed conflict.

The joint mission remarks the close cooperation and coordination between the UNHCR and the European Commission. UNCHR is one of the leading humanitarian organizations in Yemen while the Commission is one of the leading humanitarian donors of the Asian country.

Yemen has suffered several internal conflicts in recent times. In addition to the conflicted northern region, southern Yemen is also volatile due to violent demonstrations and frequent attacks against security forces.

The number of internally displaced persons in northern Yemen is estimated at over 340,000. On the other hand, it is estimated that 174,000 people have arrived from Somalia and other countries of the Horn of Africa as refugees and asylum seekers.

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