The Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, H.E. Mukhtar Al-Yafaei, met today at the Ministry's headquarters in the capital, Aden, with Mr. Armen Yeganyan, Acting Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to discuss ways to strengthen the humanitarian partnership between the Ministry and UNHCR and enhance coordination of joint efforts to support internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and host communities. The discussions focused on alleviating humanitarian suffering and expanding protection and humanitarian interventions in line with national priorities.

The meeting reviewed mechanisms for supporting refugees, expanding UNHCR's projects, and facilitating the implementation of its interventions across the liberated governorates. Discussions also addressed protection issues and measures to ensure that assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries, particularly host communities that continue to bear increasing pressures as a result of the influx of refugees and displaced persons.

Minister Al-Yafaei affirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour is guided by a people-centered approach that serves all individuals without discrimination, safeguards human dignity, and strengthens protection for the most vulnerable groups. He explained that this approach stems from the Ministry's responsibility to protect people and provide a safe environment for vulnerable populations, thereby reducing the likelihood of their resorting to unsafe pathways or becoming exposed to exploitation and other risks.

The Minister also underscored the importance of maintaining updated and well-organized databases on refugees and internally displaced persons, describing them as a fundamental basis for sound planning, directing interventions, and ensuring that assistance reaches those most in need. He noted that the Ministry will work diligently to integrate refugee-related issues into national plans, while strengthening humanitarian access and facilitating UNHCR's operations through the Ministry's offices across the governorates, in coordination with relevant government authorities.

Minister Al-Yafaei further highlighted the consultative meeting that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour plans to convene later this month, bringing together the Ministry's offices in the liberated governorates, relevant government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners. He emphasized that the meeting will serve as an important platform for addressing existing challenges, harmonizing perspectives, identifying priorities, and enhancing institutional coordination on social protection and humanitarian action. The initiative reflects the principle of partnership for people and aims to build a well-coordinated, data-driven humanitarian response that respects human dignity and delivers assistance to those who need it with fairness and transparency.

For his part, Mr. Armen Yeganyan, Acting Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), reaffirmed the agency's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and all relevant government institutions. He expressed UNHCR's readiness to contribute to the development of national plans related to refugees and internally displaced persons, while outlining the agency's efforts to promote refugee inclusion in the health and education sectors, support host communities, and strengthen the work of its implementing partners in the areas of protection and case management.