NEW YORK — The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Ambassador Abdullah Bin Yahiya Al Mouallimi said that the financial pledges and commitments made at the high-level Pledging Event 2020, organized by Saudi Arabia in partnership with the United Nations, confirm its success. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, he said, despite the difficult economic conditions that the whole world is experiencing due to COVID-19 pandemic Saudi Arabia, United Nations, and the donor partners have succeeded in collecting the equivalent of 50% of the total amount allocated by the United Nations to meet the humanitarian needs in Yemen with the countries pledging $1.35 billion, including $500 million from the Kingdom. He said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will continue its efforts, in cooperation with the United Nations, to urge the countries to donate in order to cover the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni people. He reaffirmed that the Kingdom has never stopped supporting the Yemeni people despite the security and political challenges in Yemen, due to the continued refusal of Iranian-backed Houthi militia to reach a political solution to end the Yemeni crisis. In addition the situation gets exacerbated with the Houthis" continued obstruction of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, which has aggravated their suffering. He added that Saudi Arabia provides its humanitarian assistance to all Yemeni people because the suffering of the Yemeni people does not recognize political disputes. In order to end the suffering of the Yemeni people, the Kingdom has provided approximately $17 billion. He confirmed that the United Nations appreciates Saudi Arabia’s contributions and generosity and its efforts to lead humanitarian action in Yemen. — SPA