Yemeni forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition travel to their positions during an assault on the port city of Hodeidah. EPA

"UAE and its coalition partners aimed to bring the long-running violence in Yemen to an end"- UAE Ambassador to Australia Dr Obaid Al Heri Salem Al Ketbi.

UAE readies aid surge as coalition military takes control of Yemen port

The UAE says it will closely co-operate with international agencies and organisations operating on the ground, and will continue to scale up our aid efforts through these agencies.

The UAE is preparing to deliver a massive surge in humanitarian aid for Yemen alongside military operations to release the port of Hodeidah from the control of Houthi militias.“Our military action, in partnership with other Arab Coalition members, and at the request of Yemen’s legitimate Government is aimed at bringing the long-running violence to an end,” said UAE Ambassador to Australia Dr Obaid Al Heri Salem Al Ketbi.

Dr Al Ketbi said the coalition partners had been already planning for increased aid supplies for Yemen for when the port became open and free of interference by Houthi militias. With the military action to liberate it underway, the plans for delivering aid have been activated. “Supplies, including fuel, food and shelter, along with medical equipment and medicines, have been loaded onto ships and are standing ready in the Red Sea. We know the Houthis may try to sabotage the port, but we have contingency plans in place.” Dr Al Ketbi added that the UAE and its partners can be relied upon to deliver the aid that Yemenis desperately need. “We have already done this in other parts of the country that have been liberated, including larger cities such as Aden”.

The UAE says it will closely co-operate with international agencies and organisations operating on the ground, and will continue to scale up our aid efforts through these agencies.

The UAE is already one of the world’s largest aid donors. Earlier this year it was recognised by the OECD as the top donor by national income for the fifth year in a row. In April the UAE and Saudia Arabia pledged nearly US$1billion in aid for Yemen. The two nations are responsible for half the international aid that has been promised for the country. That result was noted at the time by UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid who said "The good of the UAE is for all humanity," "That is how UAE founding father Sheik Zayed founded the country."

UAE military operation in Yemen

The UAE and its Arab Coalition partners have launched military action to take control of the port from Houthi militias after a request from Yemen’s legitimate government. The UAE Foreign Affairs ministry says alongside the military mission is a plan for aid that has been developed over many months.

It includes supplies of food, fuel and medicine as well as shelter which can be quickly deployed. These have been pre-positioned on ships in the Red Sea and are ready to move quickly into Hodeidah. The ministry says the port remains open to shipping, and should the Houthis seek to further damage or destroy port infrastructure, the aid plan includes contingencies to move supplies via other means.

The UAE says it and its coalition partners have already shown they can be relied up on to deliver large-scale aid operations. The government also says it will scale up further aid collaboration with other international aid agencies.

Humanitarian Aid surge shows UAE wants to end Yemen conflict

Helping the people of Yemen has been the primary motivation for the UAE’s involvement in trying to resolve the conflict in that country.

Military action, in partnership with other Arab Coalition members, and at the request of Yemen’s legitimate government, is aimed at bringing the long-running violence to an end. But alongside our military operation, the UAE and its coalition partners have been getting ready to make sure humanitarian aid is the first priority.

An aid surge, long planned for when the port of Hodeidah became a free conduit to help the people of Yemen, is now ready to be deployed. The UAE is ready to help the people of Yemen who have been suffering and believe a negotiated long-term political solution is now the best way to bring this conflict to an end.

Arab Coalition to deliver urgent aid supplies to Hodeidah

In Abu Dhabi, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, has said that the Arab Coalition has prepared a large-scale and comprehensive surge plan for the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni Governorate of Hodeidah, and surrounding areas.

The Minister said that food and essential supplies have been stocked and prepared for immediate intervention. "We have ships, planes, and trucks with food supplies and medicine to address the immediate needs of the people," she said.

"On top of the US$14 billion that the Coalition has already given for aid in Yemen - we continue to work with aid agencies on the ground to ensure that once the port is liberated we will quickly increase the capacity of the port and the amount of aid flowing through it."

"The Coalition successfully implemented similar large-scale operations when it liberated Aden, Mukalla and Mocha which led to a considerable improvement in the lives of their people. In each area the Coalition has liberated, the local people are now better off than under Houthi or AQAP control," she added.