King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre contributes to saving lives of mothers and newborns in Yemen

05 June 2023, Sana’a – UNICEF received in March 2022 a generous contribution of US$10 million from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center towards saving lives of mothers and newborns by ensuring equitable access to quality maternal and newborn health services in conflict-affected areas of Yemen.

Using this funding from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and over the past one year, UNICEF supported 24 hospitals to ensure provision of free quality lifesaving health services for mothers and new-born babies with medical complications who otherwise would have died. Under the same grant, UNICEF contributed to the support of the 3-year pre-service training of 160 Community Midwives. This generous contribution also enabled the procurement of 70 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment which are instrumental for the survival of new-born children.

This contribution allowed more than 27,000 women to access free of charge and quality emergency obstetric care including intensive care in 24 hospitals across Yemen. In addition, close to 12,000 newborns with medical complications received free of charge and quality care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) helping them stay alive.

“King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre is a longstanding partner of UNICEF. We highly value their commitment to supporting UNICEF humanitarian response in Yemen”, said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen. “Our partnership with King Salman Relief & Aid Centre enables us to respond quickly and efficiently to the needs of vulnerable children and women in Yemen”, adds Hawkins.