The Gulf Cooperation Council's Office for Relief and Humanitarian Coordination to Yemen recently held its 30th session at the Riyadh headquarters of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programs for KSrelief Ahmed Al-Baiz chaired the meeting, which discussed the progress of relief operations in Yemen and the aid that has been provided by donor agencies since the last session. The group also reviewed the aid to be provided during the next phase of operations. Deputy of the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population and representative for the High Relief Committee, Dr. Shawqi Al Sharjabi, gave a comprehensive presentation on the current humanitarian situation in Yemen. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to the members of the Office for their continuing assistance. He noted that KSrelief had expanded its Child Soldiers Rehabilitation Project to help even more children traumatized by the ongoing conflict. Al-Sharjabi also conveyed the Yemeni government's greetings and thanks to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait for their generous support for the UN's Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Yemen, adding GCC donor agencies have made a huge contribution to improving the humanitarian situation throughout Yemen. He called upon members of UN Security Council, UN agencies and the international community to stand firmly against the ongoing crimes of the Houthi militias, which regularly violate international standards for legal principles and human rights Al-Sharjabi informed the members that nearly a month ago, Houthi militias imposed a siege on residents of the Hajour area in the Hajjah governorate. He urged the international community to pile pressure on the militias to lift the siege and allow the delivery of urgently-needed humanitarian aid to the area. — SG
