Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Commission in Brussels said that Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarčić will deliver the opening speech at the sixth meeting of senior humanitarian officials on Yemen, scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday in Brussels. On the eve of the meeting, joint recommendations were issued between non-governmental organizations for the meeting of senior officials, and she said in a statement that in cooperation with national and international non-governmental organizations. For others working in Yemen, we issued a document to highlight the collective priorities and recommendations for the process and outcomes of the Sixth Senior Officials Meeting. The statement also stated, “This year has witnessed a military escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea, highlighting the risk of a broader confrontation that could undermine the fragile progress achieved.” So far, the risks for Yemen are high, as funding continues to decline, while the politicization of the crisis and regional tensions are rising. Obstacles to an initial humanitarian response and the significant needs in Yemen require coordinated advocacy and action between donors, national authorities and the broader humanitarian community The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM VI) on Yemen, which will be held in Brussels on 7 May, and the technical discussion prior to the Senior Officials Meeting on 24-25 April, serve as opportunities to collectively assess challenges, identify actions and mobilize funding and support.
This document highlights the collective priorities and recommendations of national and international NGOs working in Yemen in relation to the SOM process and its outcomes. It includes actions to maximize the impact of the Monitoring Mission and strengthen the principled, timely and responsible humanitarian response in Yemen while supporting efforts to achieve long-term recovery and sustainable peace.
The international community must renew its efforts to reach a political settlement and take concrete steps to avoid a broader humanitarian catastrophe.