The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved on July 19th a $50 million emergency project to support households and communities impacted by Yemen’s 15-month-long war. The World Bank Group “is seeking new ways to support the people of Yemen during the ongoing conflict,” says Asad Alam, World Bank Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.
The emergency project “will support local institutions and create over one million working days benefiting close to 60,000 families. 380,000 Yemenis in conflict affected areas will be able to access key basic services such as water and improved roads.”
The project will also support communities in Yemen hosting internally displaced people.
The World Bank’s approach to dealing with the conflict is outlined in their country engagement note for Yemen which, in summary, aims to provide emergency aid to support conflict-affected families and communities while preparing for post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, “with due attention to state and institution building and laying the foundation for a more inclusive and resilient development framework in the future.”
“We have expanded our presence on the ground to meet the scale of the challenges Yemenis are facing,” said Jamie McGoldrick, UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative. “Through our enhanced partnership with the World Bank we will be able to help facilitate the protection and expansion of critical service delivery programs and institutions across the country.”
The World Bank considers stability as the necessary condition for Yemen’s recovery and reconstruction. Although the World Bank and a number of other international organizations are working to provide essential aid, many Yemenis will remain in need of basic goods and services for as long as the conflict continues.