European Commission provides 2.5 million euro in humanitarian aid to Yemen [Archives:2006/914/Local News]

SANA'A, Jan. 22 – The European Commission allocated 2.5 million euro to address basic sage water and health care needs in rural Yemen. The aid will bring relief to some of the population's most vulnerable, with an emphasis on women and children.

Louis Michel, Commissioner of Development and Humanitarian Aid, said, “The humanitarian needs of Yemen are too often forgotten by the donor community. Yet the effects of chronic drought and lack of access to health care on the most vulnerable are increasingly severe: waterborne diseases are one of the first causes of mortality among children and maternal deaths account for a staggering 42 percent of deaths among women of childbearing age. The commission remains committed to improving access to sage water and primary care for the most vulnerable in Yemen throughout 2006.”

The Yemeni government remains unable to respond to all of the basic needs of its population, especially in rural and remote areas. The commission and its NGO partners will provide supply systems for potable water to approximately 30,000 beneficiaries. They also will extend support to approximately 70,000 in the health sector. All interventions are expected to strive to achieve sustainability.

Selected health facilities will benefit from simple rehabilitation and medical equipment and crucially from permanent water supply. Basic training will seek to revive mother and child health services. Some activities specifically will target children under age 5 and women needing prenatal care. Resources will be mobilized to prevent and treat malaria in endemic areas. Education in safe water handling practices and responsible water usage will be emphasized strongly, in connection with health sector activities.

The European Commission is a major donor to Yemen. Over the past five years, it has provided 90 euro million in aid, of which 12.2 euro million was for humanitarian assistance and 34 euro million for food security.
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