Bin Mubarak discusses Yemeni humanitarian issues with David Gressly‏

Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed bin Mubarak discussed on Tuesday with Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen، David Gressly، the importance of expanding the application of decentralization in humanitarian work and the permanent presence of international organizations in the Yemeni governorates.

The UN plan to address the problem of the Safer tanker، a floating oil storage and offloading vessel stranded in the Red Sea north of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah، was discussed by the two sides during a meeting in The Hague.

The UN announced two weeks ago that it had dispatched technical assistance to start salvaging 1.1 million barrels of oil as soon as possible، as the Safer ship was moored off the coast of Ras El-Ain in Yemen.

The salvage operation is expected to cost $129 million. The UN said that $75 million had been received and another $20 million had been pledged.

The UN said it could still suspend the operation if it does not secure the remaining funds.

On Tuesday، Bin Mubarak expressed his gratitude to the international community for its efforts and contributions in preventing an environmental catastrophe whose ramifications would extend for decades.

The United Nations and other organisations have warned that an oil spill from the FSO Safer would devastate coral reefs and other marine life in the Red Sea، put hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in the fishing industry in danger، and cut off Yemen from supplies of food and fuel.

Bin Mubarak discussed the mobilisation of resources to address the problems of internal displacement and mine clearance with Gressly during their meeting.

In the meantime، Major General Michael Beary، Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) and Commander of the UNMHA، updated the Security Council on the situation in Hodeidah on Tuesday in a closed session.

The General informed the Council that UNMHA will continue to boost mine action coordination in an effort to improve the situation as he called attention to the catastrophic effects of mines and explosive ordnance on the local population.

Beary then reiterated commitment to furthering the UN's collective efforts toward stability and peace in Yemen.

The Saudi MASAM project in Yemen، overseen by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center، has seen a milestone 400،000 landmines and unexploded ordnance cleared in more than five years.