ADEN, Yemen, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi on Thursday called upon the international community to assist the country in overcoming its economic and humanitarian challenges.
In a meeting with David Gressly, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Al-Alimi called for joint international actions to support his government to overcome economic challenges arising from Houthi assaults on the country's oil infrastructure, according to the state-run Saba news agency.
The PLC chief highlighted the devastating repercussions of Houthi attacks on oil facilities, exploitation of the war economy, currency manipulation, and illicit black market activities, all of which severely undermined private businesses and exacerbated the current crisis.
While expressing appreciation for its humanitarian aid to Yemen, the chairman urged the UN to broaden decentralized humanitarian programs across the country to provide further assistance.
In response, Gressly briefed Al-Alimi on the prevailing humanitarian situation in Yemen, highlighting the UN will potentially provide sustainable development support to the country, rather than emergency aid.
The UN official mentioned that the government reforms this year, including currency stabilization, had led to a reduction in the number of Yemenis needing emergency aid by two million.
Last month, the Yemeni government said it was facing financing difficulties following a drop in public revenues caused by Houthi attacks on oil-exporting ports.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognized government and its allies. ■
