The World Bank and the Rome-based
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said
Tuesday that have launched a $36 million project aimed at
providing immediate assistance to over 630,000 poor and
food-insecure people in Yemen - more than 30 percent of whom are
women - as well as increasing longer term agricultural
resilience in the conflict-ridden country.
With an estimated 17 million people facing Emergency or
Crisis levels of acute food insecurity, Yemen is currently
experiencing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The ongoing conflict has severely affected the agriculture
sector and has had a devastating impact on the food security,
nutrition and livelihood of Yemenis.
"The project will have a strong humanitarian impact in Yemen,
as it will provide emergency support and help in building the
resilience of the vulnerable Yemeni population," said Abdessalam
Ould Ahmed, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional
Representative for the Near East and North Africa.
"Since agriculture is one of the most important economic
sectors in Yemen, reviving agricultural activities will increase
people's access to food as well as income-generating activities,
which means greater food security.
"But the project also goes beyond immediate humanitarian
assistance," Ould Ahmed added. "The project will strengthen the
capacities of the Yemen Social Development Fund, government
agencies and local NGOs to restore the capacity of Yemeni
farmers who lost their livelihoods due to ongoing conflict and
ensure they will be able to maintain crucial access to their
livelihood in years to come".
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