RIYADH — Upon instructions from the Saudi leadership, King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid has signed three agreements worth a total of about $54 million (SR200 million) with UN agencies to carry out relief programs in war-torn Yemen. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Saturday, the center said the agreements were signed in response to a UN appeal. The first agreement was with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to local support farmers and food manufacturers in Yemen. The agreement was worth a total of $1.74 million, of which $871,000 has already been disbursed as a first installment. The center agreed to provide $22.2 million to World Health Organization (WHO) to support its programs to reduce morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable sections of the Yemeni population, including women and children. The agreement covers all regions of Yemen and is expected to benefit more than 7.5 million people. The first disbursement of $5.55 million has already been released. The center also agreed to support the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to carry out nutritional and therapeutic programs for children below 5 years of age as well as pregnant and lactating women. The total value of the program is $29.6 million, of which $8.9 million has been released. The center said about 2.7 million people in Yemen are expected to benefit as a result of this agreement. — SG/SPA
