US boosts humanitarian aid to key counter-terror ally Yemen

US boosts aid to Yemen, key ally in terror battle

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is boosting assistance to Yemen as it moves to strengthen ties with the key ally in the war on terrorism and promote democratic reform there.

The White House announced Thursday that President Barack Obama had decided to increase humanitarian aid by 44 percent from $29.6 million to $42.5 million this year. It said in a statement that the money will be used to provide food, water, shelter and health care to over 280,000 people displaced by conflict in northern Yemen, as well as refugees in the south.

The statement said the U.S. is troubled by unrest in the north and called for respect for a cease-fire. It also urged a national dialogue to support political and economic reforms.