Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 19 September 2022 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan signed nearly a US$3.6 million agreement for “The Project for the Improvement of the Port of Aden”. The funding will help with vital improvements of the Port of Aden. Expected to significantly reduce loading and discharging of goods and custom clearance in the port, the project will focus upon fixing two of the Ma’alla Wharf transit sheds and installing Wi-Fi in the Aden Container Terminal (ACT) with handheld communication devices.

The grant of nearly US$3.6 million is the third Japanese grant project to UNDP Yemen since 2016. The Port of Aden is an essential maritime facility aiding humanitarian activities in Yemen and serves as a main thoroughfare for cargo entering Yemen. It is an essential entry point for food imports and goods that are dispersed across the country but has been significantly damaged in the conflict.

At the signing ceremony, UNDP Yemen’s Resident Representative, Mr. Auke Lootsma, indicated that “the Japanese contribution is the first major funding received for the rehabilitation of the Aden port since the conflict started in 2015.” He noted that “This funding will be vital to help improve the port’s operational capacity to handle the flow of humanitarian and commercial goods both efficiently and effectively.”

The Port of Aden receives approximately 50 ships a month that carry fuel and food. With 90 per cent of Yemen’s food imported, “the new project is expected to reduce the cost of food across Yemen, eventually enabling the UN to deliver food to more people,” says Tsunetaka Tsuchiya, the Team Leader of the UNDP Yemen’s Peace Operations Support Unit that will oversee the project.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior officials from the Government of Japan (led by Mr. Kazuhiro Higashi, Chargé d’affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Yemen) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (led by Mr. Auke Lootsma, UNDP Yemen Resident Representative).

Since 2016, Japan has provided US$11.5 million from its Supplementary Budget to Yemen’s humanitarian aid and economic recovery through UNDP to support vulnerable population by improving water and sanitation and livelihoods.

Press Contacts

UNDP Yemen: Leanne Rios, Strategic Advisor and Head of the Amman Liaison Office, Team Lead: Communications and Advocacy, a.i. 

Leanne.rios@undp.org

About UNDP

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