As part of its endeavor to help alleviate the sufferings of the needy in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates has pledged 1.84 billion dirhams (500 million US dollars) in support of the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen in 2018, aiming to reach more than 13 million needy people in Yemen. This support comes within the efforts of the Arab Coalition countries, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to mitigate the suffering of the Yemeni people from the consequences of the practices of the Iran-backed Houthi militias. The coalition countries have announced the provision of $1.5 billion to support the United Nations humanitarian response plan for Yemen, more than half of the requirements of the response plan.