Deputy Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Nizar Basuhaib, met today in the temporary capital, Aden, with the newly appointed World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Yemen, Dr. Al Khadir Daloum, to discuss areas of cooperation and ways to address the funding gap affecting humanitarian food security interventions.

The meeting focused on mechanisms to bridge the widening gap between declining funding and the growing number of people requiring food security and nutrition assistance. Discussions also covered options for supporting beneficiaries who have been excluded from nutrition programmes through alternative projects and interventions, as well as the size of food assistance rations and their compliance with international standards in terms of caloric content.

The two sides also discussed the importance of strengthening resource mobilization efforts with international donors to increase funding for nutrition programmes, including support for establishing a nutritional supplements production facility to help address malnutrition, particularly among children and women.

Dr. Basuhaib expressed the Yemeni government’s appreciation for the World Food Programme’s efforts to mitigate the humanitarian crisis despite significant funding challenges, commending the organization’s vital role in supporting the country’s most vulnerable populations.

He called on the WFP to intensify its efforts to expand humanitarian coverage, improve the quality of food assistance in line with international standards, ensure transparent and equitable delivery to eligible beneficiaries, and strengthen coordination with relevant government institutions to enhance the effectiveness and complementarity of humanitarian programmes and projects.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of adopting sustainable solutions that reduce long-term dependence on emergency assistance by supporting livelihoods and strengthening food security.

For his part, Dr. Al Khadir Daloum expressed his appreciation for the support and cooperation provided by the Yemeni government, noting that the WFP is implementing its programmes in line with the Government of Yemen’s priorities for 2026.

He reaffirmed the Programme’s commitment to mobilizing additional resources from international partners to expand humanitarian interventions and improve the quality of services, helping to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable communities and respond to growing humanitarian needs across Yemen’s governorates.