The federal government will provide another $12.1 million to help the people of Yemen survive what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen against Iranian-allied rebels.
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The UN says the war has killed more than 10,000 civilians, displaced some two million people and pushed millions more to the brink of famine.
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s office says the new assistance will be spread among several UN agencies in addition to the Red Cross to “help save lives, alleviate suffering … and address the particular needs of women and girls.”
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The latest contribution announced early Friday brings Canada’s total assistance for Yemen to $65 million since March 2017.
“Sadly, the conflict continues in Yemen, and its people – particularly women and children – continue to suffer greatly,” said Bibeau in a statement.
“Canada remains committed to providing life-saving humanitarian assistance support to our partners to help the Yemeni people.”
The bulk of the Canadian assistance – $6.5 million – is earmarked for the World Food Programme for emergency food and nutritional treatment and support for children under the age of five in addition to pregnant and nursing mothers.
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