UN verification scheme for Yemen in urgent need of funds-Xinhua

UN verification scheme for Yemen in urgent need of funds

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-07-02 04:36:30

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) urgently needs additional funds to continue its work, a UN spokesman said on Friday.

With its current resources, the UNVIM will be forced to suspend operations at the end of August, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told the regular press briefing.

The UNVIM was instituted by the United Nations at the request of the government of Yemen to facilitate the unimpeded flow of commercial items to Yemen and to revive the economy of the country.

UNVIM aims to restore trust among the shipping community that goods can be delivered to Yemen without unexpected and costly delays, thus decrease insurance rates and costs for shipping companies and traders, increase the amount of basic goods and services entering Yemen, decrease the inflated prices for commodities and thus cover basic needs of the population that cannot be met through humanitarian assistance.

"Since 2016, it has cleared more than 1,600 ships to ensure essential items such as food, fuel and other commercial goods are able to reach Yemeni men, women and children," Dujarric said, noting that Yemen imports nearly 90 percent of its food.

The UN Security Council has often expressed its commitment to facilitating these imports, he said.

The UNVIM needs 3.5 million U.S. dollars for its operations from September until the end of the year, said the spokesman.

UNVIM is managed and operated by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), a self-financing organization, with funding open to UN member states.