[20/June/2012]
SANA'A, June 20(Saba)- Director of the USAID Rajiv Shah said on Wednesday that there is an increase in the volume of aid to Yemen worth $ 52 million this year to reach $ 175 million, including various areas of development.

This came during a meeting gathered here the U.S. official with President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi, in which they reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Gulf initiative and its mechanism.

In the meeting, President Hadi alluded to the vital and important role of the U.S. in this regard ,pointing out that what has been achieved to date represents an important achievement by all standards.

"The comprehensive national dialogue conference will be a quantum leap in changing the system of governance, the Constitution and the electoral system ", said Hadi.

He noted that the war waged by the army units, especially in the Yemeni province of Abyan has achieved great and unprecedented victories, pointing that the losses in the infrastructures and agriculture were large.

Hadi added that about 500,000 people displaced from Abyan province and there are over 1.2 million African refugees , as well as the big losses in the infrastructures due to the war against al-Qaeda in the province, renewing the call on the international community to help Yemen to face the challenges.

The U.S. official stressed the importance of giving Yemen a series of assistance programs and commitments in order to enable it to overcome the challenges in various fields, especially at this juncture.

BA
Saba