The leadership of Sa’dah Governorate denounced the lies and misinformation published by the US Central Command regarding food in World Food Program (WFP) warehouses in the governorate.
The governorate leadership stated, “The United Nations does not operate impartially, but rather operates within US policies and agendas to besiege the Yemeni people, the latest of which was the announcement of the suspension of humanitarian aid to the governorate without any legal justification.”
The statement pointed to the reduction of food aid provided by the World Food Program at the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war under the pretext that donors were diverting support to Ukraine, as well as the introduction of spoiled and damaged food shipments unfit for human consumption, and in some cases, no longer suitable even for animals.
The statement explained that the United Nations suspended WFP food aid distributions in Sa’dah Governorate more than 16 months ago, with the last round of food basket distributions by the program in the governorate being in October 2023.
It confirmed that meetings were held with program officials in Sa’dah and Sana’a, through the governorate leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, to attempt to find fair and reasonable solutions. However, the program repeatedly procrastinates and delays the resolution of the issues, citing various excuses.
The statement indicated that, based on the above, the local authority in the governorate decided not to allow humanitarian aid to be used as a means of political pressure by the United Nations against the Yemeni people, and agreed to distribute and transport aid from warehouses in Sa’dah governorate to Al-Jawf governorate.
It added, “The local authority worked several days ago to open aid warehouses in the governorate and begin distributing food baskets for fear of spoilage. This is in accordance with the distribution mechanism and program approved by the World Food Program, through the implementing partners previously selected by the program, and under the supervision of the Office of Humanitarian Affairs in the governorate and relevant authorities.”
It also confirmed that the local authority in the governorate has pledged to provide approximately 20 percent of the total food baskets available in warehouses, to cover the shortage in the required number for distribution to the remaining districts of the governorate for the most needy groups. In cooperation with the partners implementing the distribution process, it has also covered the costs and requirements for transportation and distribution to the beneficiaries through a loan provided to the partners.
The local authority concluded its statement by saying, “While we, in the local authority, condemn the inhumane decision of the UN Secretary-General to suspend UN operations in the governorate and consider it a partnership in the American aggression against the people of the governorate, we affirm that those who kill the people of the governorate with aircraft and missiles in their homes are lying in their claim to care for the interests of the Yemeni people and alleviate their suffering.”
