Blinken: US Pledges in New Aid for Yemen in 2022

The United States on Wednesday pledged almost US$585 million in new humanitarian aid for Yemen for 2022 as part of a United Nations-led drive to increase assistance to millions of Yemenis suffering dire shortages due to the 8-year-old conflict.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the new US assistance in a video appearance before a conference in which the UN is seeking nearly US$4.3 billion in additional aid for the war-torn country.

The conflict pits the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

The European Union pledged US$407.4 million, while the United Kingdom pledged 88 million pounds (US$115.7 million).

Blinken noted that humanitarian funding began drying up earlier this year - before attention was diverted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine - forcing the closure or reduction of two-thirds of UN programs and cuts in food rations for 8 million Yemenis.

"The Russian government's unprovoked aggression in Ukraine threatens a significant source of Yemen's imported wheat. Just in the first week alone, many Yemenis saw the bread price shoot up 50%," he said.

"To help meet the urgent needs today the United States is announcing before announcing the new US contribution of US$585 million, nearly US$585 million in new humanitarian aid to Yemen," he said.

This takes the total US contribution to Yemen since the start of the conflict to US$4.5 billion, Blinken said. read more