Al-Haj Discusses Humanitarian Situation in the South with OCHA Deputy Coordinator

SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
Dr. Saleh Mohsen Al-Haj, Director of the General Directorate of Foreign Affairs (GDFA) of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), received, today, Tuesday, in his office in the capital, Aden, Mr. Diego Zorrilla, Deputy Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the country.

The meeting discussed the humanitarian interventions implemented by OCHA in the governorates of the South, the issues of unlicensed immigration from the Horn of Africa to the South, the burdens resulting from it, the need to develop the appropriate solutions and mechanisms to deal with this phenomenon, and providing shelter and health care for immigrants and encouraging voluntary return programs to their countries.

Dr. Al-Haj expressed the appreciation of the STC for all the efforts exerted by OCHA in the governorates of the South in the humanitarian and relief aspects and looked forward to strengthening the prospects of cooperation and doing more to provide assistance to mitigate the effects resulting from the economic crisis and improve the living conditions of citizens.

Al-Haj reaffirmed the STC’s commitment to providing all appropriate facilities to UN staff and international organizations working in the South and creating a good climate that enables them to perform the assigned tasks to the fullest.

For his part, Mr. Zorrilla valued the meeting, speaking about the role played by the OCHA office in the capital, Aden, in coordinating humanitarian aid, mobilizing funding and resources to meet the needs of crisis-affected people, and enhancing staff capacity in multi-sectored aspects of UN staff and organizations operating in the country.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Fahim Saif, Office Head of the Director of GDFA, and Mr. Najib Qayed, Head of the International Organizations Department at GDFA.