The World Bank on Thursday approved $150 million in grants for Yemen as part of health, nutrition and sanitation projects to help address the financial shortfall facing the war-torn country.
The new project will provide essential health and nutrition services to 3.65 million Yemenis, essential Water and Sanitation Services to 850,000 Yemenis, train 3,000 health workers and support 388 sites for early warning and disease surveillance systems to detect outbreaks of infectious diseases.
"The project will provide much needed emergency funds to help deliver quality healthcare for the poorest and most vulnerable, including those living in remote areas,” said Tania Meyer, the World Bank's Yemen country head.
Jorge Coarasa, Senior Economist, Health and Task Team Leader, said this project also builds on the achievements and lessons of a previous and ongoing projects, which have strengthened the health system by supporting 72 hospitals and close to 2,000 primary care facilities, and helped the World Bank respond to emergencies involving severe malnutrition and the threat of famine as well as infectious disease outbreaks.
He said the projects reached about 24 million people with health and nutrition services, including 7.5 million children who were immunized, over 1 million pregnant women who received antenatal care, 2.6 million people who gained access to improved water sources, and 2.2 million people who had access to improved sanitation as well as 5.7 million people who received consumable hygiene kits.
UN agencies operating on the ground in Yemen will be the recipients of these grants from the International Development Association, the World Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries.
After announcing the grants, the World Bank said that out of a total population of about 29 million, about 20 million Yemenis are food insecure and at risk of malnutrition, with two-thirds unable to afford enough food and water and sanitation services.
It said over four million people have fled their homes.
