Royal Court Adviser and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) general supervisor Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah has reiterated demands for the United Nations to present results of its investigations into corruption cases against some of its affiliated agencies working in Yemen.
Several reports had held relief officials accountable for corruption pertaining to UN equipment and funds.
Speaking about the Kingdom’s current standing on the matter, Rabeeah said: “There is communication with the UN ... We are not part of the investigation, but we are communicating with them.”
“We want the money allocated from the two countries (Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) to reach every Yemeni in need, regardless of place and time,” Rabeeah told Asharq Al-Awsat after emphasizing relief organizations’ responsibility towards ensuring that aid is properly delivered to the people of Yemen.
Recent international media reports have leaked internal UN investigations into corruption charges pressed against officials and staffers operating in Yemen.
The suspects were accused of cooperating with Houthi militias, getting involved in combat, hiring unqualified staff, and allowing hostile militiamen and commanders to use UN vehicles for immunity from aerial targeting.
In his remarks over statements by UN Resident Coordinator in Yemen Lise Grande on some donors delaying the payment of pledges to Yemen this year, Rabeeah said: “Saudi Arabia shares good communication with the UN and is working hard to alleviate human suffering in Yemen.”
“The Kingdom, in 2019, funded UN programs led by the World Food Program (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with more than $270 million,” he added.
Rabeeah’s remarks were made on the sidelines of a workshop held on Sunday in Riyadh.
The workshop, which focused on Yemen relief operations, was attended by international and regional officials and government representatives. It reviewed supervisory mechanisms needed to ensure the success and integrity of the work of humanitarian relief bodies.
Rabeeah also pointed out that overall Saudi aid provided to Yemen during the past four years exceeded $14.5 billion. This includes humanitarian relief, development aid, and support for the Central Bank.
KSRelief alone has contributed to more than 368 projects worth $2.2 billion since 2015.
