Saudi Arabia and UN to host Yemen pledging event in June

Civil war has been raging since 2014 and officials fear Yemen will especially vulnerable to Covid-19

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will host the pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen on Tuesday, June 2, in partnership with the United Nations .Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Arabia will host a pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen on Tuesday, June 2, in partnership with the United Nations.

The event, which will be held online, will be led by the kingdom under the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia has called on other countries to take part in the event to help provide essential, life-saving assistance to Yemen and its people over the next year.

Yemen’s civil war has been raging since 2014, after the Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, from the internationally recognised government.

About 80 per cent of Yemen's population, or 24 million people, rely on aid and 10 million are facing famine.

Yemen has the world's fourth-highest internally displaced population and health care is scarce in rural areas.

The country has reported 51 coronavirus infections with eight deaths, but its inadequate testing and battered healthcare system has aid groups fearing a devastating coronavirus outbreak.