Like so many of those I have spoken to in the past week, I am looking forward to Ramadan.
I am conscious that this Ramadan is an opportunity for all of us who live in Yemen to think about the values at the heart of this holy month of reflection, consideration for others and avoidance of conflict. And so I send the people of Yemen my warmest regards, and wish you Ramadan Karim.
Yemen has come a long way since the youth revolution. The political transition, as set out in the GCC Initiative, must also result an economic and security improvements. But progress is slow, too slow. So I urge all those who call themselves Yemenis to use this month of reflection to, once again, put Yemen’s interests, and the implementation of the NDC outcomes, above personal and party politics.
In particular, my thoughts are with those who are suffering in Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and conflicts. The UN Humanitarian appeal for 2014 sets out that more than half the population, or 14.7 million people, are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. For 10.5 million Yemenis hunger or the inability to access sufficient safe, nutritious food to meet their dietary needs, is a constant companion. The British Government is providing $120m / YR 25,000m of humanitarian assistance to Yemen over two years as part of the wider support from international community to make Yemen a success story.