Riyadh donors conference pumps over $ 6 billion in aid to Yemen

Riyadh: During donors conference (Consultative Group to support Yemen) which opened here earlier today, fourteen countries and international financing institutions have declared a financial support of $ 6.369,5 billion to support the Republic of Yemen.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia topped the donors with $ 3.250 billion in aid to help Yemen to overcome the political and economic crisis it experienced and to meet its developmental needs to achieve stability on its territory.

The European Union provided $ 214.1 million, France $ 6.2 million, Germany $ 157.7 million, Switzerland $ 8.1 million, Britain $ 311.3 million and the United States of America $ 846.1 million.

International organizations such as the Arab Fund (AF) provided $ 510 million, Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) $ 380 million, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) $ 41 million, Islamic Development Bank $ 100 million, OPEC Fund for International Development 'Ofid' $ 45 million, and the World Bank $ 400 million.
In a joint press conference held at the end of the first day of the donors conference (Consultative Group to Support Yemen), the Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf said that the countries that did not declare grants to Yemen during today's Riyadh meeting, have their own procedures regarding the announcement of support, so it is expected to adjourn that to the next meeting in New York.

Dr. Al-Assaf also emphasized that the Kingdom has supported Yemen for many years, and this support still continues.

For his part, Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Mohammed Al-Sa'adi said that Yemeni government of National Reconciliation seeks to overcome the problems that hinder the arrival of aid to Yemen and to provide a safe and attractive environment to avoid instability in Yemen.

World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Ms. Inger Andersen said that there will be more of a tender for the reconstruction of Yemen, stressing that financial resources and companies operating in Yemen must be domestic.

She said that everyone is keen, at this meeting, on the support of the Yemeni government to achieve a better future for its people.