The Hague | 15 October 2026
Minister of Human Rights, Mashdal Mohammed, discussed with representatives of the Dutch Relief Alliance supporting relief efforts in Yemen, at the headquarters of Yemen’s Embassy in The Hague, ways to strengthen the response to growing humanitarian needs, support displaced persons, and develop partnerships with Yemeni civil society organizations, in the presence of the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Nabil Abdulhafeedh, and Yemen’s Ambassador, Sahar Ghanem.
The Minister reviewed the repercussions of the recent escalation by the terrorist Houthi militias on civilians, noting that the number of displaced persons has approached a quarter of a million people, and that many families have been forced to seek refuge in emergency shelters established urgently, which lack food, shelter, basic necessities, and protection services. He called on the Netherlands and European donors to increase humanitarian funding for Yemen and ensure the continuation of life-saving programs, while prioritizing the protection of children, women, and the most vulnerable groups.
The Minister praised the efforts of the Relief Alliance (which comprises more than 14 Dutch non-governmental organizations working in the humanitarian field) in alleviating the suffering of Yemenis and supporting affected communities, emphasizing the importance of developing a practical and sustainable partnership that links the humanitarian response with the protection of human rights, safeguards the dignity of beneficiaries, and ensures that assistance reaches those entitled to it transparently. He also stressed the importance of supporting the capacities of Yemeni organizations and involving them in planning and setting priorities, as well as strengthening the documentation of violations and holding those responsible accountable.
He also addressed the most pressing needs on the ground and obstacles to the delivery of assistance to targeted groups, the protection risks faced by displaced persons, as well as the challenges faced by human rights defenders and humanitarian workers, particularly in areas under the control of the terrorist Houthi militias, emphasizing the importance of coordination to address these obstacles and protect humanitarian workers and local partners.
For their part, representatives of the Dutch Alliance affirmed that Yemen would remain among the priorities of their programs and multi-year plan starting in 2027, despite the challenges facing international aid funding. They reviewed their interventions in the areas of food, water, health, shelter, and psychological and social support, their partnerships with 13 local Yemeni organizations, and their commitment to increasing funding for local partners and enhancing their participation in planning, evaluation, and decision-making.
