ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave nearly a billion dollars from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to the United Nations for humanitarian aid in Yemen, while the UN expressed throwing money at the situation isn't enough.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres thanked Riyadh and the Emirates for the $930 donation that covers about one-third of the humanitarian funds requested by the United Nations.
"On the other hand, we know that there is no humanitarian solution for humanitarian problems," Guterres said after being presented with the check in New York on Tuesday. "The solution is political, and we are entirely at your disposal to work together to find a political solution when that becomes possible."
The conflict in Yemen is entering its fourth year with 10,000 people killed in what the United Nations has called "the world's worst humanitarian crisis," as 22.2 million people need aid because of imminent famine, cholera, and diphtheria outbreaks.
Amnesty International has criticized the Saudi-led coalition of causing "enormous harm" to Yemeni civilians, while being propped up by Western powers including the United States, United Kingdom, and others.
"We try as much as we can to solve the problems of the Middle East politically and if things get out of control, we try as hard as we can to avoid all the other impacts," said Salman.
The coalition accuses Iran of arming Shiite Houthi rebels with missiles in the conflict. Iran denies the charge and always argues that its missile program is for defensive purposes.
“Everyone knows that all routes to send arms to Yemen are blocked and that Saudi Arabia has imposed a complete siege on the oppressed nation of Yemen,” Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC for Political Affairs Brig. Gen. Yadollah Javani told Iran's Tasnim News on Tuesday.
The agency confirmed that Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement did fire seven ballistic missiles at Saudi targets on Sunday night.
Javani argued that Riyadh is claiming Tehran provided the missiles to divert attention away from war crimes committed by the Saudi coalition.
Javani claimed that Yemen is now capable of producing its own defense systems, including missiles.
The Houthi-led rebels took control of the capital city of Sanaa in September 2014. Six months later, the Saudi coalition began militarily supporting the Yemeni government, while trying to oust the rebels.
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