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Shahid Malik visits Yemen
29 August 2007
On his first overseas visit after becoming Britain’s new development Minister, Shahid Malik travelled to Yemen on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. The reason for the visit was so he could see the impact UK aid is having on the lives of poor Yemenis and speak to those whose circumstances have been transformed.
Safer water
Shahid
Malik listened intently as the chief villager of Beit Kera, a settlement
situated 3 thousands metres above sea level, described how a new water tank with
a solar panel powered pump had changed the entire life of the village. Gone is
the walk down a treacherous slope to fetch water that has left many villagers
dead or injured in recent years. The job was usually reserved for the women and
girls. Today they have safer water in larger amounts and they also have more
time – about four hours each day. That means school enrolment is up, women have
more time with their families and there are fewer accidents.
Despite the extraordinary challenges that Yemen faces over the next 20 years, including increasing water scarcity, a rapidly rising population and declining oil production, real progress is being made. However, many Yemenis are worried that deepening poverty and conflict may lie ahead.
$5 billion pledge
During
the visit Shaid Malik also signed a new ten-year Development Partnership
Arrangement with the Government of Yemen – signalling the UK Government’s
confidence in reforms and our long term commitment to development in Yemen.
Shahid met with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr Al-Arhabi, who is instrumental in helping push forward Yemen’s reform agenda. Dr Al-Ahabi is also responsible for following up on the successful Consultative Group meeting hosted by the UK in November 2006. At this meeting, $5 billion was pledged to Yemen by the international donor community. Shahid also held talks with President Saleh and the Prime Minister, Dr Mojawar.
Warm welcome
After
meeting with Government figures and Yemeni villagers, Shahid commented that he
had been impressed with their positive attitude, in spite of the problems that
still need addressing. He appreciated the warm welcome given to him by ordinary
Yemenis, and felt he learnt a great deal about their everyday lives when he
shared traditional meals with them.
Shahid Malik said:
“Yemen, the challenges it faces, the people and their hospitality and optimism, have all made a tremendous impact on me.
“Despite the severity of the obstacles the country will have to overcome over the next generation, I have been struck the progress made so far and the willingness to change.
“Yemen’s future is by no means certain, but the strong partnership and friendship with the UK will help provide vital support in its next phase of development as a nation.”
The Minister was impressed with the progress made on reform so far, learning about the hard work to enact recent legislation to strengthen public procurement practices. He met with the newly formed national anti-corruption authority and saw how committed the Government of Yemen is to surmounting the obstacles that face them.
Yemen is receiving greater international support, partly as a consequence of this commitment displayed by the Government and partly because donors accept that Yemen has been under funded for too long. For its part, the UK is committed to increasing its support to Yemen by 400% by 2010.