Abu Dhabi/Jeddah: The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has allocated Dh300 million to scale up its relief operations and development programmes in Yemen.

Since January, the ERC has implemented humanitarian projects worth Dh79.75 million in the war-torn country.

In a statement on Sunday, the ERC said the allocation follows the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and instructions of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and follow up of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the ERC.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency said Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence, has directed that First Corporal Juma Jawaher Juma Al Hammadi, First Corporal Khalid Mohammad Abdullah Al Shehi and First Corporal Saeed Ahmad Al Habsi of the Emirati force participating in the coalition, who were martyred on Saturday, be treated as Saudi martyrs “financially and morally”.

The main UAE relief agency, ERC, has been on the forefront to alleviate the humanitarian sufferings of the Yemenis.

The ERC is one of the few relief agencies that remain active in Yemen despite the escalation of events and challenging circumstances on the ground.

It was also among the first of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to respond to the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

The ERC said, “With calm and stability returning to Aden and other provinces, the ERC is on the threshold of a new phase of relief operations. We have laid down an ambitious plan to deliver basic needs to the people, including food, medicine, and water and electricity services. We have allocated an additional budget to fund these relief operations and developmental projects. We have also increased humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable and affected segments, mostly children who were reportedly suffering from acute malnutrition and stand exposed to risks and illnesses.’’

The ERC has shifted its main office from Sana’a to Aden and equipped it with financial, human and logistic resources to oversee distribution of relief material, develop plans and adopt initiatives that fulfil the requirements of the people. The Aden office will also assess the humanitarian situation on the ground and communicate with Yemeni officials to meet their needs promptly.

Aden, the statement added, will be the logistical centre of the strategic relief assistance either sent by the UAE or purchased from neighbouring markets. It will also serve as the launch pad for relief operations to other provinces.

The statement indicated that the ERC has so far sent five ships loaded with 7,000 tonnes of food and medical assistance as well as petroleum derivatives and aid for children. It has purchased relief assistance worth tens of thousands from neighbouring markets and transported it to Yemen.