The Trump administration’s decision a month before the report was released to impose the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation on Houthis did not help either. But this was swiftly reversed when US President Joe Biden assumed power.
Muna Luqman, the founder of Taiz-based grassroots charity Food4Humanity, spoke of concerns about how the accusations hinder private sector donors’ ability to support charities such as hers.
“This [UN report] could be far more damaging than the impact of the US State Department’s FTO designation on Houthis where humanitarian aid is concerned,” she warned.
Cumulatively, the aftermath of the UN’s allegations has already disrupted international money wire transfers. The accusations have also inflicted commercial damage to the reputation of banks that deal with Yemen’s private sector, making it much harder to import food.
“Everybody is halting supply until this is cleared and clarified,” Luqman told Al Jazeera.
Anything that affects the remaining structures of the state and the economy will increase the prices, Luqman said, adding, “This week, in two days, the prices went up.”
The timing could not be worse as the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates 20.1 million face hunger without food assistance. Last week, the UN raised a disappointing $1.7bn at a virtual donor pledging event – less than half of what it was expecting.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it a “death sentence” on the Yemeni people when 400,000 children risk dying of malnutrition.
Images of babies and children, listless, emaciated, with ribs exposed while anguished mothers look on, have become poster campaigns on social media and underground tube stations in most Western countries to solicit donations for Yemen.
But Luqman said even the money raised at the conference cannot be transferred to those in need. Western Union, for example, has blocked transfers and set a limit of up to $1,000. “It has become complicated,” said Luqman.
Since the start of the Saudi Arabia-led bombing campaign in Yemen six years ago this week, local and international aid organizations have faced a litany of obstacles in ensuring aid reaches its intended recipients.
Source: Al Jazeera