Yemen, facing a daunting array of security and economic problems, needs about $2 billion a year in aid to stay afloat and double that to turn its economy around, Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said on Thursday. "I am not an economist, but I think one is talking about probably $4 billion a year," Qirbi told Reuters when asked how much aid was required to rescue an economy struggling with a sharply rising population and falling oil revenues.
He said the minimum needed in annual development aid was $2 billion, but added: "If you want a real impact, a real change in the economy, standards of living of population, addressing the issues of basic needs of Yemenis, you need more than that." Britain has called an international conference on Yemen for January 27 to discuss how to counter radicalisation and co-ordinate aid.