The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be devoting ISK 100 million ($814,600/€713,273) to the crisis in Yemen, RÚV reports. The funds will be equally divided between the United Nations’ World Food Program and UNICEF, both of which are currently offering support services in the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson made the decision to dedicate these funds to the crisis in Yemen on Friday. “The emergency is such that every minute matters. We will respond with additional support for organizations already on the scene,” said Guðlaugur Þór. The aid is intended to provide food and clean water, the latter of which will help “combat the spread of communicable diseases.”
It’s estimated that 22 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in Yemen, with the threats of famine and cholera looming. The Icelandic Red Cross is collecting relief funds to help the effort. Residents in Iceland can text HJALP to 1900 to make a donation of ISK 2,900.
