By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US announced a new $444 million tranche of humanitarian assistance for war and famine-ravaged Yemen on Monday while stressing that "much more is needed" to help those in need.
The announcement comes as the UN hosts a pledge conference in Geneva to appeal for $4.3 billion from the international community to address the country's dire woes.
Over 2 million children are "facing deadly malnutrition" amid a UN budget shortfall that forced the global body "to scale back or cut over half of its life-saving programs, including emergency food assistance," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"More than eight years of conflict have pushed Yemen’s economy and institutions to the brink. Families have been left unable to buy basic goods, provide for their children, or access healthcare. The United States continues our efforts to help stabilize Yemen’s economy and restore basic services and livelihoods," he said in a statement.
"Despite the dire humanitarian conditions, there is a glimmer of hope as Yemen is experiencing the best opportunities for peace in years. Building on the momentum from the UN-mediated truce, the parties now have the chance to end this war. The international community must do everything we can to help," he added.
Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.
More than 21 million people – two in three Yemeni children, women, and men – are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the donor conference in Geneva.
“Humanitarian needs continue to soar while access is constrained, and funding perennially falls short," said Guterres.
Total US assistance for Yemen since the conflict began now stands at $5.4 billion.