New York (South24)

The international community pledged to provide political, financial and technical support to the Yemeni government at an International Ministerial Meeting held on January 20 at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.

The meeting, which saw the participation of more than 35 countries, was organized by the Yemeni government in cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK). It was chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer.

In a joint statement, the international partners affirmed their commitment to cooperate with the Yemeni government to achieve its vision and priorities to improve the living conditions of all Yemenis.

#نيويورك | البيان المشترك عن الاجتماع الوزاري الدولي لحشد الدعم للحكومة اليمنية يتعهد بتقديم الدعم السياسي والمالي والفني لتحقيق رؤية الحكومة وأولوياتها.#الاجتماع_الوزاري_الدولي_لدعم_الحكومة_اليمنيةhttps://t.co/rXegfu7sdI

— رئاسة مجلس الوزراء اليمني (@Yemen_PM) January 21, 2025

The statement stressed that the stability of Yemen and regional security, including maritime security, are linked to the existence of a stable, effective government that is accountable to the people.

The statement welcomed the Yemeni government’s commitment to transparent and inclusive governance, while emphasizing enhancing institutional efficiency and improving the provision of basic services to citizens.

In the context of the humanitarian crisis, the statement noted that more than 19.5 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance, and called for a more balanced approach between the humanitarian response and sustainable development to ensure long-term stability.

The Yemeni Prime Minister called on the international community to support efforts to build a stable and prosperous Yemen through effective and sustainable partnerships.

In a statement during the event, UK Minister Falconer announced the launch of the Technical Assistance Fund for Yemen (TAFFY), an initiative aimed at deploying technical advisors to support government reforms in the political, economic and security sectors.

As part of the announced package, the UK pledged to increase its humanitarian assistance to Yemen by £5 million, targeting the provision of food, medical supplies and shelter to thousands of people in need.

The £5 million increase in humanitarian spend on Yemen this financial year is in addition to the £139 million announced in May 2024, taking the total humanitarian spend to £144 million.

In addition to humanitarian assistance, the UK also reiterated its commitment to supporting maritime security in Yemen, including funding training programs for the Yemeni Coast Guard, within the framework of the TAFFY initiative.

The international meeting comes amid a major economic and financial crisis facing the Yemeni government, which has triggered protests in the capital, Aden, and the city of Mukalla, the largest city in Hadramout, during the past few days.