[16/03/2025 07:35]

ADEN - SABA
Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak chaired Sunday a joint meeting between the government and the UN Country Team in Yemen to present the development results for 2024 and the priorities for 2025.

The meeting aimed to identify areas of integration according to urgent priorities in light of anticipated funding challenges.

The meeting approved the formation of a permanent joint coordination committee between the government and the UN in Yemen, aimed at determining the strategic direction for UN interventions in alignment with government priorities, overseeing and monitoring overall performance and progress, in addition to ensuring links with local, regional and international development operations.

It emphasized the committee's focus on transitioning from humanitarian aid to recovery and sustainable development that serves the interests of the Yemeni people.

The terms of reference for the joint committee's work were also adopted to carry out its main tasks in enhancing strategic alignment between the government's national priorities and the UN's development frameworks.

Opening the meeting, Prime Minister said it the first of its kind to bring together the Yemeni government and UN organizations in Aden since the disastrous Houthi coup that negatively impacted all aspects of life in Yemen and destabilized security in Yemen, the region and the world.

He considered the meeting an opportunity to enhance coordination between the government and UN organizations and to correct the course to ensure donor efforts align with our national priorities and the government’s plan to strengthen economic recovery (2025 – 2026), contributing to achieving sustainable development that positively reflects on the lives of Yemenis.

Dr. Ahmed Awadh bin Mubarak expressed his appreciation for all the efforts made by UN organizations and international organizations to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen over the past years, highlighting the role played by humanitarian workers throughout Yemen in facing the challenges accompanying their work, particularly in areas still under the control of the terrorist Houthi militia, which has imposed numerous restrictions on humanitarian work, including the arrest of employees in organizations and the torture of two of them to death.

The Houthi terrorist militia's crimes against UN employees also included issuing death sentences against them, with several still in detention until today.

He reviewed the efforts made by the government to follow up on their case and keep it alive to exert pressure on the Houthi militias for their release.

He reiterated the importance of relocating the headquarters of all UN organizations and international organizations to Aden, pointing out to the government's commitment to provide all necessary support to ensure a smooth and safe transition for these organizations and the success of their missions and interventions.

He emphasized that this transition does not mean neglecting the humanitarian and developmental needs in areas under militia control, and that they will work together to establish a mechanism to ensure assistance reaches all Yemenis without discrimination.

The Prime Minister stressed that the gradual shift from relief work to developmental projects has become an urgent necessity, noting that the government has recently completed a short-term plan to enhance economic recovery for the years 2025 - 2026 and is seeking to mobilize international support for its implementation.

"The interventions of donors through UN agencies represent one of the opportunities to support the government's efforts to improve the economic situation by directing UN organizations' interventions to implement the goals set by the government, focusing on vital sectors that directly affect citizens’ lives, such as health, education, and infrastructure," he said.

During the meeting, the government presented its priorities for the years 2025-2026, which are consistent with the economic recovery plan, while the UN presented the key achievements for 2024 and the priorities for 2025.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen Julien Harneis spoke about the prospects for future partnership between the UN and the Yemeni government, highlighting the objectives of forming the permanent joint coordination committee, which will oversee strategic guidance and monitor and review overall performance, progress, and policy development for collective action to enhance further integration in the development sector, with a focus on transitioning from humanitarian assistance to early recovery and sustainable development for the Yemeni people.

Several ministers and officials also spoke about the government's vision and proposals to enhance coordination with the UN country team in Yemen and the importance of the success of the permanent joint coordination committee, as well as the urgent priorities of the government within its vision and plan for economic recovery.

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