DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia confirmed that it will organise a virtual donors conference for Yemen on Tuesday in partnership with the United Nations.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency on Friday cited a directive from King Salman, announcing the pledging conference.
The United Nations on Thursday announced the conference in partnership with Riyadh, saying the aim is to raise some $2.4 billion to pay for the world’s biggest aid operation.
Around 80% of Yemen’s population – 24 million people – need aid. The country has been mired in conflict since the Iran-allied Houthi group ousted Yemen’s government from the capital Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 in a bid to restore the government.
(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli, Editing by William Maclean)
