[23 November 2008]

SANA'A, Nov. 23 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh lauded here on Sunday assistance offered by the UN to support development in Yemen.

During his meeting with the Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States Ms. Amat al-Alim Alsoswa and the UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative in Yemen Ms. Pratibha Mehta, President Saleh praised the current cooperation relation between Yemen and UN.

Ms. Alsoswa briefed the President on the UNDP aid to Yemen to overcome the rainstorm impacts on the eastern governorates of Hadramout and Mahrah in addition to propping up the government's efforts to reconstruct both governorates and Saada Governorate as well.

She expressed her satisfaction of the relief efforts exerted to assist the affected people in the three governorates. She indicated to the UN readiness to implement a program aims to reinforce Yemen capacities to counter disasters and crises as well as supporting programs for local administration development and poverty alleviation.

The UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Mehta, for her part, said that the UN would offer all assistance to bolster the current preparations for parliamentary election 2009.

The meeting also reviewed several issues of Somali refugees in Yemen and the UN activities in fields of development and combating poverty.

AF/AF

Saba