New York – After six years of conflict in Yemen, over 20 million people are now in need of humanitarian
assistance. The result of this continuous civil war has been detrimental to the people of Yemen – The
severely underdeveloped health sector is collapsing and the economy continues to spiral downward.
Yemen Aid is neutral and non-political. We strongly encourage all parties to the Yemeni conflict to start
talking to each other about a long-term agreement that will bring stability back to Yemen and end human
suffering. This will require a lot more compassion, political will, and investment by Yemenis, their
neighbors, and the international community.
Yemen Aid recently learned of a decision announced by U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, to
designate Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (“FTO”) under section 219 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (“SDGT”) entity pursuant to Executive Order 13224. U.S. Congress will have seven days to review the designation to further approve or overturn the
decision starting from the day that Secretary Pompeo notifies them about the FTO designation.
As a nonprofit organization incorporated in the U.S., we closely follow the political situation in Yemen
and how it may impact our charitable work on the ground, including the safety of our employees and
volunteers. Last month, Yemen Aid was aware of this possible designation and planned accordingly to
avoid any issues. Due to the uncertainties of the FTO designation, Yemen Aid completed all projects in
northern and western Yemen. Additionally, Yemen Aid temporary halted all future projects in areas under
Houthi control until further notice. We continue to work on our charitable projects in all sectors within
provinces under the internationally-recognized government’s control, in which approximately 10 million
Yemenis reside.
At Yemen Aid, we believe that humanitarian organizations should be given complete and untampered
access on the ground to support the most vulnerable segments of the population without domestic and
international interference. Nevertheless, we continue to look forward to serving millions of Yemenis in
need with sustainable projects that empower communities to be self-sufficient and resilient.
Summer Nasser
CEO
New York – Yemen Aid, a Yemeni-American humanitarian organization that responds to the crisis in
Yemen, announced that they have received a $1.475 million in-kind medical shipment donation from
Direct Relief to combat COVID-19 in several provinces across Yemen.
This shipment comes at a crucial period since the start of Yemen’s conflict in 2014 which has
devastated the health sector completely. As COVID-19 continues to spread on a community level, the
country faces lack of testing kits and supplies needed to properly care for COVID-19 patients. Yemen
Aid’s CEO, Summer Nasser, states “The health sector is facing an overwhelming problem that they
cannot solve without the support of partners and the international community.”
Critical supplies in the shipment consist of 150 oxygen concentrators and 5 portable ventilators which
will support patients in specialized COVID-19 facilities that have breathing troubles from the illness.
Additionally, the shipment contains thousands of PPE supplies including N-95 masks, face shields,
digital thermometers and gloves. The PPE supplies will support frontline workers and medical staff in
the midst of the pandemic at COVID-19 facilities in Yemen.
Yemen Aid coordinated with the Embassy of Yemen to the United States to secure the shipment for
an OCHA flight, which will depart from Dubai to Aden within the next few days. The Ministry of Health
in Aden has also been contacted by Yemen Aid representatives which assisted in identifying 16
provinces with designated COVID-19 facilities that will benefit from the medical supplies.
About Yemen Aid: Yemen Aid is a tax exempt organization in the United States and an internationally
licensed humanitarian organization in Yemen by the Ministry of Planning and International Planning.
For additional information, including how to donate, visit yemenaid.org.