RIYADH: The Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has established branches involving 1,000 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for aid distribution to various parts of Yemen.

“The NGOs will distribute aid to Yemenis affected by the conflict in areas inaccessible to relief agencies like the United Nations,” Ambassador Fuad Maznee, adviser to OIC's humanitarian affairs department, told Arab News on Saturday.

One reason why aid could not reach some parts of Yemen is because humanitarian agencies are blocked by Houthi militias and their cohorts.

Maznee said that the OIC will attend a meeting in Istanbul of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from OIC member states to discuss ways of raising funds for Yemen.

“The meeting is in response to the call for help from OIC Secretary-General Iyad Madani for the war-torn country,” Maznee said. Maznee will represent the OIC during the meeting.

NGOs will come from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and the United Kingdom (to be represented by the Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid).

He added that earlier a consultative meeting of 30 NGOs met in Istanbul, during which the OIC presented a proposal to raise $32 million for food, shelter and medicine.

“The NGOs agreed that the OIC will serve as the umbrella organization in extending aid to Yemen and its people affected by the efforts to restore the legitimate government,” he said.

Participants belong to the Union of Islamic World's NGOs comprising 270 members.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia donated $274 million to Yemen through the United Nations to support the humanitarian needs of Yemenis affected by the conflict.

The United Nations Commission for Humanitarian Relief (UNCHR) also sent planes recently carrying aid to Yemen.