Reuters AlertNet Lite - UK raises aid to Yemen to fight poverty

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

UK raises aid to Yemen to fight poverty

15 Nov 2006 00:01:07 GMT
Source: Reuters

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it would sharply increase development aid to Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country whose government is an ally in Washington's war on terror.

Britain's pledge of 117 million pounds ($222 million) in aid over the next four years came as an international donors' meeting opens in London on Wednesday that aims to raise up to $5 billion to fight poverty in Yemen.

The British government said it hoped its pledge would encourage wealthy Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which are attending the two-day conference, to increase support for Yemen.

The rise in British aid from 10 million pounds this year to 50 million pounds by 2011 will make Britain the European Union's leading aid donor to Yemen, British officials said.

Yemen, the ancestral home of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, has cracked down on the group to try to counter its image in the West as a haven for militants.

The British aid is aimed at fighting poverty in Yemen and not the war on terror, but poor people are more likely to turn to militant groups, one British official, who declined to be identified, said.

The aid will be spent on providing better basic services, including education for girls, creating more private sector jobs for the poor and helping make the government more accountable.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Kuwait profile
· View map

• Oman profile
· View map

• Qatar profile
· View map

• Saudi Arabia profile
· View map

• United Arab Emirates profile
· View map

• Yemen profile

MORE >>

NGO latest

• From the Executive Director's Desk... In the Fight to end Malaria Broken Promises Create Suffering Children
CWS

• New HIV and AIDS Resource Section Launched on ADRA Web Site
ADRA - International

• Islamic Relief and WFP Sign Major Agreement for Cooperation
Islamic Relief - USA

• Air Serv International Appoints new CEO
Air Serv International

• Diamond Industry, Government Still Not Preventing Import of Real "Blood Diamonds"
WV - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• AEP Ohio plant blast kills one, shuts unit

• U.S. targeted al Qaeda suspects in Somalia-report

• Bush's Iraq plan to include more troops:senator

• NY subway bomb plotter gets 30 years in prison

• Bush to send some 20,000 more troops to Iraq:senator

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Jan 9 00:35:14 2007