OCHA - Yemen Pledge Press conference 27F ebruary 2023
/
19:25
/
MP4
/
1.2 GB

Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA

Yemen Humanitarian Appeal 2023 OCHA 27 February 2023

UN seeks $4.3 billion to help 17.3 million most vulnerable Yemenis

The UN's Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths appealed on Monday for $4.3 billion to assist 17.3 million of Yemen’s most vulnerable people, after years of grinding war and economic hardship.

Speaking in Geneva ahead of the High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, Mr. Griffiths highlighted how Yemen continues to teeter on the brink of catastrophic food insecurity, with two in three people in need of help.

“By any standards, it's enormously important,” he said. “We're looking at 21 - more than - 21.7 million people this year in Yemen in need of humanitarian assistance. And of those we're targeting in this humanitarian response plan, about 17 million.”

Mr. Griffiths urged support for the appeal, co-hosted by Switzerland and Sweden: “Last year, the 2022 plan, we received, thanks to the generosity of governments like those here and others, over $2.2 billion on a $4.3 billion budget. Again, we're looking for about the same amount this year: $4.3 billion.”

Although UN aid coordination office OCHA said that Yemen was not experiencing "full-scale military offensives”, no formal peace has been declared either, after fighting escalated in 2015, between the Government and opposition forces that control the capital, Sana’a.

And despite the improved security situation brought about by the truce from 2 April to 2 October last year that led to a 76 per drop in conflict-related displacement, victims of landmines and explosive remnants of war increased by 160 per cent, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“I think it is crucial that we maintain our support for Yemen in particular at this point in time and to also reach the people that we have not reached, for example before the truce,” said Andrea Studer, Assistant Director General, Head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) - Europe Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland.

The need for safe aid access throughout Yemen remains crucial for communities struggling to feed themselves, find work and resist flooding linked to the climate crisis.

According to OCHA, an estimated 5.4 million—25 per cent—of the people in need across Yemen are affected by aid access constraints. These are most numerous in northwest Yemen, where they are largely bureaucratic impediments, the UN office said. It noted with concern, too, that carjackings, kidnappings and other violence are on the increase, particularly across areas primarily under the control of the internationally recognized Government of Yemen.

“We call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from obstructing, restricting or interfering in humanitarian operations and we ask specifically for female aid workers to be allowed to access women and girls in need,” Ms. Studer said.

Today, in the absence of a comprehensive political settlement, continued displacement, the economic situation, and lack of capacity of state institutions, are likely to remain a key driver of needs, OCHA warned.

One of the biggest challenges is displacement estimated at 4.5 million people, or 14 per cent of the population.

“In the last year, humanitarian efforts have managed to improve the hunger situation for two million Yemenis, averting famine,” said Carl Skau, Deputy Director-General, Head of Department for Multilateral Partnerships, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden. “And this, despite the global food security impact of the Russian aggression. At the same time, we also know that there needs to be an improved humanitarian operating environment, so that assistance is even more effective, that we can do more with each dollar.”

In 2022, humanitarian partners in Yemen delivered lifesaving assistance to nearly 11 million vulnerable people every month.

Monday's High-Level Pledging event seeks this year to support four priority areas: raise awareness of Yemen’s severe humanitarian crisis; expand the limited improvements made in 2022; mobilize support to address underlying drivers of human needs; call for an end to the conflict.

ends

STORY: Yemen Humanitarian Appeal 2023 – OCHA

TRT: 1 mins 59s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 27 February 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying, a bright day.
  2. Wide shot, TV cameras in foreground, podium speakers to rear, Press photographer, journalists.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) — Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Chief: “By any standards, it's enormously important. We're looking at 21 - more than - 21.7 million people this year in Yemen in need of humanitarian assistance. And of those we're targeting in this humanitarian response plan, about 17 million.”
  4. Medium, video camera showing Martin Griffiths in viewfinder, the UN official is also to rear and the presser signal is broadcast on a large TV screen.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) — Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Relief Chief: “Last year, the 2022 plan, we received, thanks to the generosity of governments like those here and others, over $2.2 billion on a $4.3 billion budget. Again, we're looking for about the same amount this year: $4.3 billion.”
  6. Wide, press room, journalists and light panels, TV cameras.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) — Andrea Studer, Assistant Director General, Head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) - Europe Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland: “I think it is crucial that we maintain our support for Yemen in particular at this point in time and to also reach the people that we have not reached, for example before the truce.”
  8. Medium-wide, press room, Press photographers, podium speakers.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) — Andrea Studer, Assistant Director General, Head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) - Europe Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland: “We call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from obstructing, restricting or interfering in humanitarian operations and we ask specifically for female aid workers to be allowed to access women and girls in need.”
  10. Medium, journalists and podium speakers, other participants following proceedings.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) — Carl Skau, Deputy Director-General, Head of Department for Multilateral Partnerships, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden: “In the last year, humanitarian efforts have managed to improve the hunger situation for two million Yemenis, averting famine. And this despite the global food security impact of the Russian aggression. At the same time, we also know that there needs to be an improved humanitarian operating environment, so that assistance is even more effective, that we can do more with each dollar.”
  12. Medium, podium speakers, side shot.
  13. Medium, participants looking on.
  14. Close, journalist’s hand holding pen, writing notes in notepad.
  15. Wide, journalists and participants, seated.

Similar Stories

UN  High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rigths Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on DRC at the 60th Human Rigths Council ENG FRA

Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu., 

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OCHA , WHO , IOM , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization, UN Women, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

WMO Press conference: Global Air Pollution - 04 September 2025

2

3

2

Press Conferences | WMO

WMO Press conference: Global Air Pollution - 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024.

OHCHR Press conference: 33rd CRPD Findings- 03 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

OHCHR Press conference: 33rd CRPD Findings- 03 September 2025 ENG FRA

The UN disability rights committee (CRPD) presented the findings of its 33rd session on DPRK, Finland, Kiribati, Maldives and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

HRC - Press Conference: President of the Human Rights Council - 03 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC

HRC - Press Conference: President of the Human Rights Council - 03 September 2025 ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber briefs the press in Geneva ahead of the Council's 60th session.