Qatar- UN expresses concern over effects of hurricane Chapala on Yemen

Date

11/1/2015 9:56:14 PM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Doha: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) expressed concern at the damage expected to be caused by the arrival of Hurricane Chapala at areas of northern Yemen in the coming hours which could lead to a new food crisis adds to the suffering of Yemeni cities due to the ongoing conflict there.

Talking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) WFP regional spokeswoman Abeer Etefa said that a range of scenarios had been prepared to deal with the potential effects of the cyclone especially that areas of northern Yemen are suffering from severe food shortages which the hurricane would exacerbate.

Etefa pointed out that Oman's Port of Salalah which lies within the scope of hurricane Chapala is the main artery for humanitarian aid supply to Yemen and in a case of its closure the WFP's projects in Yemen will experience heavily damage.

She stated that the WFP provided humanitarian assistance to Yemen since the beginning of military operations from early April until the end of September 2015 noting that almost around one million people benefit from this assistance every month and this number rose to nearly two million people during last October.

The WFP regional spokeswoman added that the program focuses on families that suffered food insecurity saying according to recent estimates 7.6 million people suffered severe food insecurity a level of need requiring urgent external food assistance.

Etefa noted that 10 out of 22 Yemeni governorates are now classified as phase 4 of early warning. According to WFP ratings these governorates are one step below areas of famine which the international community is considering a consequence of failing to deliver the necessary assistance to the affected people in the conflict- areas Etefa said.

About the necessary funding to cover needs of Yemeni people she said that the funding is still limited urging concerned countries to fulfil their obligations to fill the food gap growing in the world while citing that the WFP main funding is depending on the Saudi assistance worth about $140 million.

QNA

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