[01/06/2017 08:14]

RIYADH-SABA
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulmalik al-Mikhlafi received Thursday a telephone call from UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Geert Cappelaere on efforts of combating cholera.

Minister al-Mikhlafi highlighted efforts of the UNICEF in protecting children in Yemen and efforts in combating cholera.

He notified the UN official that the war, which is being waged by Houthi-Saleh's rebel militias, has resulted in suffering of the Yemeni people and complicated the humanitarian situation, adding that the government was forced to face this war.

He confirmed the government will pay salaries of the government employees if the rebels committed to hand over revenues of revenue-generating institutions to the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden and its branches in government-held areas.

The salaries come from the institutions revenues, which go to rebels for financing their war and for the interests of rebel leaders who become very rich on the expense of the people, whose suffering are intensified.

Al-Mikhlafi, who showed willingness of the government of realizing peace on the bases of the three references of peace, renewed call for humanitarian organizations, brothers and friends to support Yemeni people facing this dangerous epidemic of cholera.

For his part, UNICEF Regional Representative Cappelaere noted that figures of cholera infected cases are worrisome as the most victims are children and this situation needs imminent response and doubling efforts on the ground.

" One of the problems of complicating the epidemic has relation with not paying salaries of employees of the health sector, water and sanitation institutions and cleaning workers for months a matter which paralyzed activities of these institutions, especially at the moment for facing the spread of the epidemic," said Cappelaere.

He valued the role of the government in facing the epidemic and confirmed on supporting its efforts and enhancing capabilities to curb its spread.

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