Swiss government allocates 40 million francs for Yemen and Ethiopia

Switzerland’s Federal Council has approved 40 million francs in additional emergency aid for Yemen and Ethiopia, SRF reported. The government will provide 29 million francs for Yemen and 11 million for Ethiopia.

The Foreign Affairs Department will cover half the total by reallocating funds from its existing budget. It will ask Parliament to approve the remaining 20 million francs as a supplementary credit.

In Yemen, fighting between Houthi forces and government troops has caused widespread displacement and worsened the humanitarian crisis. About 22 million people, or two-thirds of the population, now need humanitarian assistance, the Federal Council said.

In Ethiopia, recent tensions and a renewed escalation of conflict in the north are affecting the population. Climate challenges are also putting livelihoods under pressure.

The funding will go to partner organisations including the International Committee of the Red Cross, the UN refugee agency, the World Food Programme and UNICEF. Local organisations will also be involved where possible, particularly those with direct access to people in conflict-affected areas.