SANA’A, Aug. 4 — The United Arab Emirates Red Cross Organization doubled its efforts during Ramadan in an attempt to address the humanitarian situation in Yemen by providing more aid for victims in many Yemeni governorates.

The organization’s delegation continues to distribute food relief for families with difficult  living circumstances due to the events Yemen has witnessed. The delegation offered a large amount of diverse food material for one thousand families in Amran, north of the capital Sana'a.  

The organization’s plan involves expanding their work to target more beneficiaries through the Sanadhm Campaign that was launched under the direction of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of United Arab Emirates.  

Khalfan Saif Rashid Al-Kanadi, the United Arab Emirates Red Cross Organization manager in Yemen, said the support targets impoverished families in five Yemeni governorates, namely Sana'a and the outlying governate, Amran, Hajja, and Al-Mahweet.

He said the food support will be delivered directly to beneficiaries in their residential areas. He said the teams field visits to impoverished areas of Yemen enabled them to see the nature of the situation and realize the tragic circumstances some locals endure.  

Al-Kanadi said the money spent on this backup is estimated to be about $180,000.

 "To date, 28,000 food baskets have been provided to 4,000 families with approximately five individuals in each."

"In addition to the money we receive from the UAE, a plane loaded with … support arrived in Yemen carrying food material, dates and clothes," he added.

Al-Kanadi said there are orders by the UAE that Yemeni organizations and associations are not permitted to be in charge of distributing the food relief. The Red Cross Organization of the UAE is in charge of distribution.

"We cooperate with social figures, imams, the Yemen Red Cross and the Social Fund in order to obtain lists of needy families that are in dire need of help. We also form committees to deal with this matter."  

Regarding obstacles facing the organization, Al-Kanadi said there are concerns about the double names of some beneficiaries. This obstacle is overcome by the help of local councils and social figures who introduce the families.

"We exclude no one whether they’re poor, marginalized or Jewish. We also provide services for Somalis in Yemen living in the Kharaz camp in addition to Palestinian refugees in Sana'a and Eritrean refugees in Al-Khokha district.

He said they provide Iftar meals on the outskirts of Sana'a for roughly 1,000 people in Al-Sunaina, west of Sana’a, Hizyaz to the south and Sawan district to the east.

"The organization gives Iftar and dinner in Hadramaht, Aden, Shabwa, Al-Mahra and Hodeida in addition to other activities in Socotra and Hard, an area along the border of Saudi Arabia.”