King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Tuesday through videoconference signed two joint cooperation agreements with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Yemen with a total value of $20 million. The agreements were signed by Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and IOM Director General António Vitorino. The first agreement stipulates securing and distributing shelter aid and non-food items to displaced people in the governorates of Marib, Taiz and Al-Hodeidah, which will benefit 82,320 individuals from internal displaced families in Yemen and 20,580 individuals of host communities with a total of 102,900 individuals and a total value of $15 million. The second agreement includes rapid intervention in the water and sanitation sector in several Yemeni governorates with the aim of providing drinkable water and fit for human consumption in the neediest areas, contributing to reducing the rates of contracting diseases resulting from drinking contaminated water. This is in addition to building and reconstructing infrastructures of water resources and sanitation, contributing to increasing health awareness and hygiene, and building capabilities and training, which will benefit around 50,500 individuals with a value of $5 million. Dr. Al-Rabeeah stressed that the two agreements will help hundreds of thousands of Yemenis who are deprived from housing, shelter and food, and they will also contribute to reducing the impacts of humanitarian violations that Yemenis face by the Houthi militia. It called on IOM to stand firmly against the militia and its big violations against refugees and internally displaced people, especially against their targeting of camps in Marib and Al-Jouf, in addition to depriving them of their rights to be protected from the COVID-19 virus, including vaccines, in addition to the Houthi militia's imposing of fees and taxes on refugees with the aim of punishing them. He also expressed his conviction that these practices that contradict with humanitarian laws are strictly rejected by IOM that will not stand idly against them. Vitorino stressed that the agreements signed reflects the strategic partnership between IOM and KSrelief and that they will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis who live under difficult humanitarian conditions. He added that the IOM in Yemen since 2019 has received support from KSrelief with a total of $100 million, which greatly contributed to alleviating the big consequences of the conditions in Yemen. Vitorino also agreed with Al-Rabeeah regarding rejecting any form of targeting and using internally displaced people, migrants or refugees for any purpose, expressing hope to improve the ability to provide protection, assistance, healthcare and shelter for those who need them. The director general also praised the partnership between IOM and KSrelief, expressing his appreciation to Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, for supporting the organization's efforts in Yemen. — SPA
