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Arab Coalition Allocates $1.5 Bln for Yemen Humanitarian Operations

The Arab Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced the launch of comprehensive humanitarian operations for the country. (SPA)
The Arab Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced the launch of comprehensive humanitarian operations for the country. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition Allocates $1.5 Bln for Yemen Humanitarian Operations

The Arab Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced the launch of comprehensive humanitarian operations for the country. (SPA)
The Arab Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced the launch of comprehensive humanitarian operations for the country. (SPA)

The Arab Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Monday the launch of comprehensive humanitarian operations, worth $1.5 billion to help the war-torn country, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Among these initiatives are a donation to the UN humanitarian organizations in Yemen, projects to increase the capacity of Yemen's ports, programs to reduce the cost of transportation and improve road infrastructure, and the establishment of air bridge to deliver humanitarian aid to Marib.

The announcement was made during a meeting for Arab Coalition foreign ministers in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

With regards to the humanitarian operations, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the Kingdom, in cooperation and coordination with its partners, will launch on Monday comprehensive humanitarian operations in Yemen which will have a great humanitarian impact on the life of Yemeni people.

He also said that these operations will address the humanitarian needs of the current phase, as the operations will include projects for infrastructure development in Yemen that would ensure an increase in the capacity to receive aid via air, land and sea ports.

"These operations reflect the Kingdom's firm stance towards supporting the Yemeni people and providing them with all means for a decent life. The initiatives of comprehensive humanitarian operations will increase Yemen's imports receiving capability from 1.1 million metric tons per month in 2017 to 1.4 million metric tons per month," Jubeir added.

He also stated that the Arab Coalition will contribute to the Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations in Yemen with an amount of $1.5 billion to finance the UN Humanitarian Response Plan in Yemen 2018.

"This amount will be distributed through UN agencies and international relief organizations," added the minister, explaining that an amount of $2 billion will be deposited at the Central Bank of Yemen to enhance the economic stability. An additional amount of $30-40 million will be dedicated to expanding Yemeni ports' capacity in terms of receiving more shipments. A sum of $20-30 million will be allocated to reducing the cost of land transportation.

Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi expressed his deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts in alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Saeed Al Jaber said that the comprehensive humanitarian operations in Yemen aim at providing urgent relief to the Yemeni people in order to reduce the significant deterioration in food security and humanitarian situation in general.

Spokesman for the Arab Coalition Colonel Turki bin Saleh al-Malki said that the alliance will put its military resources at the disposal of this major humanitarian operation in order to protect air, sea and land supply routes.

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Arab World

Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Rescue Teams Search for Survivors in Building Collapse that Killed at Least 2 in Northern Lebanon

A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
A Lebanese flag is pictured, in the aftermath of a massive explosion, in Beirut's damaged port area, Lebanon August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

At least two people were killed and four rescued from the rubble of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Sunday in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon, state media reported.

Rescue teams were continuing to dig through the rubble. It was not immediately clear how many people were in the building when it fell.

The bodies pulled out were of a child and a woman, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Dozens of people crowded around the site of the crater left by the collapsed building, with some shooting in the air.

The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure. Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli due to poor building standards, according to The AP news.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced that those injured in the collapse would receive treatment at the state’s expense.

The national syndicate for property owners in a statement called the collapse the result of “blatant negligence and shortcomings of the Lebanese state toward the safety of citizens and their housing security,” and said it is “not an isolated incident.”

The syndicate called for the government to launch a comprehensive national survey of buildings at risk of collapse.

Arab World

Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
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Israel to Take More West Bank Powers and Relax Settler Land Buys

A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)
A view of Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, in the West Bank, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP)

Israel's security cabinet approved a series of steps on Sunday that would make it easier for settlers in the occupied West Bank to buy land while granting Israeli authorities more enforcement powers over Palestinians, Israeli media reported.

The West Bank is among the territories that the Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Citing statements by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, Israeli news sites Ynet and Haaretz said the measures included scrapping decades-old regulations that prevent Jewish private citizens buying land in the West Bank, The AP news reported.

They were also reported to include allowing Israeli authorities to administer some religious sites, and expand supervision and enforcement in areas under PA administration in matters of environmental hazards, water offences and damage to archaeological sites.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the new measures were dangerous, illegal and tantamount to de-facto annexation.

The Israeli ministers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new measures come three days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

Trump has ruled out Israeli annexation of the West Bank but his administration has not sought to curb Israel's accelerated settlement building, which the Palestinians say denies them a potential state by eating away at its territory.

Netanyahu, who is facing an election later this year, deems the establishment of any Palestinian state a security threat.

His ruling coalition includes many pro-settler members who want Israel to annex the West Bank, land captured in the 1967 Middle East war to which Israel cites biblical and historical ties.

The United Nations' highest court said in a non-binding advisory opinion in 2024 that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there is illegal and should be ended as soon as possible. Israel disputes this view.

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Attack on Aid Convoys in Sudan

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit strongly condemned the attack by the Rapid Support Forces on humanitarian aid convoys and relief workers in North Kordofan State, Sudan.

In a statement reported by SPA, secretary-general's spokesperson Jamal Rushdi quoted Aboul Gheit as saying the attack constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilians and depriving them of their means of survival.

Aboul Gheit stressed the need to hold those responsible accountable, end impunity, and ensure the full protection of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief facilities in Sudan.