Kuwait donated on Tuesday USD12 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support its humanitarian programs in Yemen.

Salvatore Lombardo, Chief of Staff at Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said in Geneva upon meeting Jamal al- Ghunaim, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations Office, that the donation will be allocated to address the issues of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yemen.

He praised the ‘generous’ Kuwaiti support, saying it contributes to affording appropriate shelter for IDPs and refugees coming from Somalia and the Horn of Africa. All these programs are coordinated with other UN agencies including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ghunaim described the relationship between Kuwait and the UNHCR as “historic.” This is tangible through the continuous praise to the humanitarian role of Kuwait, he said.

Kuwait had committed to the $12m at the Donor Conference for Yemen held in Geneva in April 2018.

Ghunaim said he discussed with the UNHCR spending mechanisms.

In a related matter, official Yemeni sources revealed that Maarib Governor Sultan al-Arada discussed on Tuesday with Director of International Organization for Migration's Office in the province Paul Critchley IOM's role in supporting the local community and the displaced as well as finding solutions to the African refugees in Maarib.

Critchley said the IOM intends to carry out studies to establish in the province a humanitarian center through which all UN agencies would work jointly in coordination with the local authority to offer help to the displaced in Maarib and neighboring provinces.

Efforts will also be coordinated with other international organizations through the center.