Ravaged by more than seven years of war, Yemen faces "
extremely worrying prospects
", with international aid declining despite the continuing violence, a UN official warned in an interview with AFP on Sunday.
Read alsoThe keys to understanding eight years of civil war in Yemen
“
The reality is that despair, poverty, destruction, have reached such a level in Yemen that the majority of the population is no longer able, in one way or another, to support themselves
” said Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Triggered in 2014, the war in Yemen has caused one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.
It has killed hundreds of thousands of people according to NGOs and forced millions more to flee combat zones.
More than three-quarters of the population depend on international aid, with millions on the brink of starvation.
In retaliation for attacks by Houthi rebels this week on economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 stepped up raids on rebel areas.
“
It is an extremely worrying prospect at this time for the people of Yemen
,” said the UNDP chief, present at the Doha Forum in Qatar.
"Tragedy"
As international aid funding dwindles, aid organizations fear the situation will get even worse with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Yemen depends on these two countries for its wheat supply.
"
The risk is that Yemen will be partly forgotten and that will obviously be a tragedy
," Steiner said.
The conflict in Europe has "
repercussions on the world economy
", which "
will reduce the extent of international solidarity
".
"
Right now, the world is monopolized by the war in Ukraine, but the conflict in Yemen, the desperate situation in Afghanistan, these are realities that will endure
," he said.
Steiner said he feared further cuts in international donor funding for Yemen.
“
That should be a concern for all of us.
»
At a donors' conference in early March, the UN only managed to raise $1.3 billion out of the $4.27 billion expected.
Read alsoYemen: Saudi raids after a truce announcement by the rebels
On Saturday, the Houthis announced a three-day unilateral truce, but the coalition continued its airstrikes in Yemen, however.
