GENEVA — UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has launched an appeal on the occasion of Eid Al Adha, to rally support from the public and private sector to ensure families have the necessary means to purchase food and other essential items through its cash assistance program. The appeal seeks to raise funds during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah in support of displaced Yemeni families, to help them afford food and clean water. Today, millions of Yemenis face hunger as they cannot afford to buy food. With the prospect of poverty and humanitarian needs exponentially growing, UNHCR has dedicated a large portion of its programme for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) classified as being on the verge of famine. “It is unacceptable today that fathers, mothers, children and grandparents in Yemen are living in famine-like conditions, after enduring six years of war. “We are working hard with our partners and generous donors to ensure that displaced families who are most in need are protected from malnutrition and hunger,” said Houssam Chahine, chief of private sector partnerships for the Middle East and North Africa at UNHCR. “We urge the public to make the most out of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah and Eid Al Adha and dedicate their Sadqah to help provide cash assistance to Yemeni families so they can afford basic nutrition.” Contributions can be dedicated to Yemen through UNHCR’s GiveZakat app and platforms. The app complements UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund’s web-based platform, offering an easier and quicker way to conveniently deliver lifesaving Zakat and Sadaqah to vulnerable populations in several locations. UNHCR operations in Yemen require $271 million in 2021, however, as of July only $151 million has been funded, leaving a 44% funding gap, in the face of increasing needs. UNHCR requires $271 million for helping people in Yemen this year. Only half of these urgently needed funds were available at mid-year. In 2020, UNHCR implemented the largest cash assistance program targeting IDPs in Yemen, assisting over 1.2 million displaced Yemenis. With the support of generous contributions, in 2021 UNHCR plans to exceed last year’s cash assistance to IPDs. “We provide cash assistance for displaced people to cover their most urgent needs such as food and medicine, emergency shelter, and mattresses and blankets,” explained Chahine. — SG