Silver Spring, Maryland – October 3, 2018
The following statement is to clarify an Associated Press story (“UN suspends crucial cash aid to 9 million Yemenis”) published on Tuesday, October 3, 2018 regarding ADRA’s country director in Yemen and ADRA’s work in the country.
“This is a very disturbing situation, but we stand on these widely recognized humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in delivering aid for the most vulnerable people in Yemen,” says Jonathan Duffy, president of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. “ADRA has provided emergency response in Yemen for years, and continues to manage long-term development projects to help millions of people affected in the country. ADRA is also one of Yemen’s largest international organizations and remains a neutral and well-respected humanitarian agency.”
The sudden withdrawal of the travel credentials of our head of mission in Yemen is a threat against delivery of effective humanitarian aid to the millions of suffering people in Yemen.
ADRA carries out emergency responses and development work on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress making no distinctions on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinions.
ADRA operates an extensive network of projects in Yemen, aiding more than 1 million vulnerable people in the areas of food assistance, nutrition, water and sanitation, health, shelter, agriculture, economic recovery, protection against gender-based violence, and others.
ADRA is an independent, humanitarian agency established for the specific purpose of providing individual and community development and disaster relief.
