Young, Murphy Urge Saudi Arabia To Donate To United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan For Yemen

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Wednesday called on the government of Saudi Arabia to contribute to the United Nations’ efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Ahead of the March 1 pledging conference, the Senators urged Ambassador Reema bint Bandar Al Saud to ensure Saudi Arabia considers making a similar contribution to their pledges in 2018 and 2019, and highlighted the urgency of the situation as critical programs that provide food, water, sanitation, fuel and medicine have been shut down due to lack of donor support in 2020. 

“Yemen is currently the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Addressing people’s severe humanitarian needs – and especially preventing a large-scale famine – is an essential part of our mutual efforts to bring about lasting peace in Yemen,” Senator Young and Murphy wrote.

Young and Murphy continued: “Unfortunately, the international community again faces an urgent crisis as critical programs to provide food, water, sanitation, fuel and medicine have begun to shut down due to lack of donor support in 2020. 16 million people in Yemen are already going hungry, and the humanitarian situation is falling off a cliff.” 

“We therefore ask that you consider contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen consistent with your generous commitments in 2018 and 2019 to help prevent the worst humanitarian outcomes for Yemeni civilians impacted by the conflict, risk of famine and communicable diseases such as COVID,” Young and Murphy concluded.

A full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, 

We are writing today regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen and current funding shortfalls facing the relief effort. As you know, Yemen is currently the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Addressing people’s severe humanitarian needs – and especially preventing a large-scale famine – is an essential part of our mutual efforts to bring about lasting peace in Yemen.  

As members who follow developments in Yemen closely, we deeply appreciate contributions the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made to the humanitarian response to alleviate the worst outcomes for the most vulnerable Yemenis. These contributions have saved millions of lives. 

Unfortunately, the international community again faces an urgent crisis as critical programs to provide food, water, sanitation, fuel and medicine have begun to shut down due to lack of donor support in 2020. 16 million people in Yemen are already going hungry, and the humanitarian situation is falling off a cliff. Without renewed support, this has the potential to be catastrophic for the prospects for peace in the country – a peace that reverberates throughout the region. 

We therefore ask that you consider contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen consistent with your generous commitments in 2018 and 2019 to help prevent the worst humanitarian outcomes for Yemeni civilians impacted by the conflict, risk of famine and communicable diseases such as COVID. These previous contributions saved countless Yemeni lives, staving off famine and curtailing the world’s largest cholera outbreak. In parallel, we are also advocating similarly robust levels of support from the United States and other donors.  

Thank you for your attention during this critical moment. We look forward to working with you to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. 

Sincerely,