Saudi Arabia's New $1.5 Billion Aid to the Yemeni Government

Less than a week after Saudi Arabia's $2 billion aid to the central government of Yemen, the Riyadh-led regional coalition announced a new package of 'humanitarian aid' for the war-torn country. On Monday, February 21, the coalition announced the provision of $1.5 billion in new humanitarian aid to Yemen and stated its intention to increase the capacity of Yemeni ports to receive humanitarian aid, essential goods, and commodities. King Salman of Saudi Arabia ordered on Wednesday, January 17, in response to the Yemeni Prime Minister's request for financial assistance, that $2 billion be provided as emergency aid to Riyadh's allies in Yemen. The Saudi King's decree came a day after the Yemeni central government officially announced its urgent need for the $2 billion financial aid that Riyadh had previously promised. Reuters reported on Tuesday, January 26, from Aden, Yemen, that the government needs financial assistance to 'stabilize the currency' of the country, which had depreciated further that week. However, the new financial aid comes after a request from the United Nations, which had called for nearly $3 billion in aid for Yemen. Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, told reporters in Sana'a last Sunday that this is 'the largest aid request for Yemen' and its goal is merely to provide 'minimum facilities for millions of people' in the country. According to the regional coalition's statement regarding this new aid, 17 secure land routes will be created to increase the import of humanitarian aid to Yemeni ports. Following the Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, the regional coalition has besieged Yemeni ports and airports. The coalition claims that the aim of this action is to prevent the transfer of weapons and missiles to the Houthi militants. Meanwhile, international organizations have warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, and both the United States and Britain have urged Saudi Arabia to end the blockade of Yemen. Since the spring of 2015, when the Yemen war began with coalition attacks led by Saudi Arabia to support the legitimate government against the Iran-backed Houthi group, more than ten thousand people have been killed, and over eight million are on the brink of famine.