Al-Haj Discusses Ways to Transition to Humanitarian-Development Projects in the South with OCHA Deputy Coordinator
SMA NEWS – ADEN THE CAPITAL
Dr. Saleh Mohsen Al-Haj, Director of the Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Authority (FAEA) of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), received, today, Monday, in his office in the capital, Aden, Mr. Diego Zorrilla, Deputy Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The meeting, which was attended by Dr. Najib Qayid, Head of the International Organizations and Human Rights Administration at the FAEA, and Mr. Aseel Mohammed, Head of the International Organizations Section at the FAEA, discussed the efforts of coordination of humanitarian affairs and interventions in the governorates of the South, as well as ways to transition to sustainable humanitarian development projects in the South during the coming phase and bolster resilience.
During the meeting, Dr. Al-Haj welcomed Mr. Zorrilla, noting that the efforts made by OCHA are immense and highly appreciated by the political leadership of the South.
Al-Haj touched on the deterioration of basic services in the capital, Aden, with a focus on the frequent power outages, highlighting the lack of tangible interventions or assistance from the international community to alleviate the daily suffering caused to the people as a result of such deterioration.
In another context, Al-Haj reiterated the STC’s aspiration for more opportunities to be given to southern cadres, to benefit from them in employment, to involve southern civil society organizations, build their capacities, and to strengthen partnership in the pilot project in transitioning to humanitarian development.
For his part, Mr. Zorilla appreciated the meeting, which comes in the context of transitioning from humanitarian aid to development projects while maintaining emergency response in certain areas in need, and shedding light on the fact that more capacities should be given to UN employees and organizations working in the country.
