Moayad Hameidi, a Jordanian national, works in Turbah, in the southwest of the country. He was shot on Friday afternoon, and the identity of the killers is still unknown.
Taiz office head
The WFP released a statement expressing deep sadness at the news, announcing that he had just arrived in Yemen to assume a new job as head of the agency’s office in Taiz.
Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized Government has been fighting for control of the Arab country, alongside the Houthi militia, which controls the capital and much of northern Yemen.
Taiz is the country’s third largest city and has been besieged by Houthi rebels for seven years, creating a blockade for essential goods and humanitarian supplies for the city’s residents.
Tens of thousands of civilians have died during the conflict and the UN estimates that 17 million people are still food insecure across Yemen, with estimates indicating that by the end of this year the number suffering from high levels of severe food insecurity could rise to 3.9 million.
Food assistance from WFP is essential to avert potential famine and an ongoing food security crisis.
‘Great tragedy’
The agency described Mr. Hameidi, who has worked for WFP for 18 years as a “dedicated humanitarian”. He previously served in Yemen, as well as Sudan, Syria, and Iraq.
“The loss of our partner is a terrible tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community,” said Richard Ragan, WFP Representative and Country Director for Yemen. “Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy.”