The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has responded to the United Nations appeal for Yemen by contributing some $53 million to three separate programmes run by the United National Children Fund (Unicef), World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The largest pledge, $29.6m, will be received by the Unicef, while the WHO and UNDP will be receiving $22.2m and $1.7m, respectively.

Initial disbursements made as of 3 September equates to about $15m, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

Saudi Arabia’s contribution was made in response to an appeal made by the UN earlier this year. The funds will be used to support local food producers as well as to procure food and medical supply for the most vulnerable members of Yemen’s population.

The UN has warned that one in five Yemenis could face severe starvation as a result of ongoing confrontation between warring factions in the country.

Saudi Arabia currently leads the 10-state Arab coalition that has been conducting military operations against Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen and to re-install exiled president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

According to the UN, more than 4,500 has been killed, including at least 2,100 civilians, since the military campaign began in March.

The violence in Yemen escalated over the weekend with the killing of some 45 UAE and five Bahraini soldiers. The UAE responded on Saturday by striking a mine-making plant in Saada province in Northern Yemen, which is thought to be dominated by the Houthi militias, as well as several military camps and weapon stores in Ibb province. Reports coming out of Yemen said the attacks sustained dozens of civilian casualties.

The conflict in Yemen along with low oil prices and the lifting of sanctions agains Iran constitute the key defining issues among policy makers this year across the Arab states.