President Al-Alimi Affirms Protection and Support for Humanitarian Community

  Riyadh

President of the Presidential Leadership Council, President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi received today, Wednesday, Mr. Peter Hawkins, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The meeting discussed UNICEF’s interventions in humanitarian fields, particularly in the sectors of health, education, child protection, combating malnutrition, immunization against deadly diseases, and psychological support. It also discussed environmental health programs and efforts to build the capacities of local authorities in operating and managing water systems and reservoirs.

President Al-Alimi praised the existing partnership between the government and United Nations organizations, foremost among them UNICEF’s distinguished presence in Yemen since the 1970s and its continued role in supporting Yemeni children and families. He praised its valued interventions aimed at mitigating the repercussions of the humanitarian crisis caused by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militias.

In In this context, the President referred to the consequences of the Houthi militia coup, which he said had led to the collapse of the humanitarian protection network and turned millions of children into direct victims of the conflict through recruitment and deprivation of education and essential vaccines. He also pointed to the destruction of infrastructure and the national economy caused by the militias’ coup.

The President of the Presidential Leadership Council stressed the importance of building on the existing partnership with UN organizations to expand humanitarian and development interventions related to children.

He particularly highlighted the areas of school feeding, support for education and prevention of school dropout, water and environmental health, primary healthcare, and psychosocial support programs, while emphasizing the need to broaden their impact across all parts of the country.

He also expressed his aspiration for a gradual shift from an emergency-response approach toward a more sustainable framework that supports recovery and the rebuilding of institutions and essential services.

President Al-Alimi commended donor countries and entities supporting UNICEF programs in Yemen, foremost among them the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and international partners that continue to support the Yemeni people under these exceptional circumstances. He affirmed that investing in Yemeni children today is an investment in peace, stability, and the future of Yemen and the region.

The President renewed the commitment of the state and government to providing all means of protection and facilitation for humanitarian and UN organizations, and to ensuring a safe environment for their work. He considered humanitarian action an essential partner in protecting society and preserving a minimum level of stability.

He also reiterated full support for the humanitarian community and for aid workers and UN staff arbitrarily detained by the Houthi terrorist militias, describing their detention as a flagrant violation of international law and all national norms.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic.