Saudi Arabia has announced a donation of $66.7 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners to respond to the cholera outbreak in Yemen. Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, has issued directives to King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid and Relief (KSRelief) to provide the assistance. The directive comes in response to appeals by WHO and UNICEF to counter the cholera epidemic in Yemen through a combination of water, sanitation and healthcare activities. The main objective of the aid is to eliminate the causes of the cholera outbreak, said Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of KSRelief and adviser at the royal court. Hailing the generous gesture Crown Prince Muhammad, Al-Rabeeah said this reflected his concern for the welfare of the Yemeni people. He appealed to the UN and the international community to stand firm against anyone who obstructs humanitarian work in Yemen. He also called on the pertinent agencies to expedite their programs to save Yemeni lives. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to working closely with our aid partners to effectively address the cholera and general humanitarian situation in Yemen. We have listened to the call from UNICEF and WHO for an immediate donation of $66.7 million to address cholera specifically, and have acted accordingly," Al-Rabeeah said. "We will continue to work with our partners across a broad range of humanitarian and relief efforts for the people of Yemen," he added. – SG/SPA
