Emirates Red Crescent delivers aid in Taiz

The Emirates Red Crescent broke the eight-month-long siege laid on Taiz City by the militants of the rebel Houthi group and their ally, the now-ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and delivered 20,000 food baskets to the residents in two phases.

The Emirates Rec Crescent team challenged the siege and carried the first 10,000 food baskets in the first phase before the pro-government army soldiers and National Resistance Forces fighters, backed by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition's forces, broke the siege.

Rashad Al Aqhal, Under-Secretary of Taiz Governorate, and members of the local city council attended the launch of the first phase.

He said the UAE aid has not been disrupted at any stage and continues to reach several affected cities and areas.

This is not unusual for the Emirati generosity, he noted.

Distribution of the aid to the besieged residents was carried out in a smooth and orderly manner and according to the plan and most-underprivileged people were prioritised, he said

The official stressed that the Yemeni people will always remember the generous humanitarian and fraternal stances of the government and people of the UAE.

Residents of the city thanked the UAE for the aid which they said was "help in time" amid the food shortage.

They praised President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for their supporting Yemen.

They noted that the Emirati top leaders build on the generous legacy of the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

They also thanked the Emirates Red Crescent and its president H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.

Another 10,000 food baskets were carried into the city in the second phase of the operation.

In 2015, the UAE was the largest donor to Yemen during the humanitarian crisis and provided more than Dh1.6 billion ($447 million) in aid to the country, according the UN Financial Tracking Service (FTS). Some 1.8 million people in Yemen benefited from the UAE's food aid.

The UAE continues to play a pivotal role in responding to humanitarian crises in Yemen and promoting development and reconstruction across Yemen.

The UAE's aid projects in conflict-stricken Yemen are focussed on electricity, food, health, water, sanitation, fuel and transport across the ten provinces of Aden, Taiz, Lahij, Dhale, Shabwah, Hadramaut, Abyan, Al Mahrah, Socotra and Ma'rib.

The UAE has restored the airport and seaport in Aden, a number of power stations, 11 hospitals and medical centres and 123 schools.

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