Saudi Arabia confirmed it will host a virtual donors conference next week for Yemen together with the United Nations which said the conflict-riven nation risked being overwhelmed by the coronavirus, Reuters reported.

Saudi Press Agency cited a directive from King Salman confirming Tuesday's donor conference in Riyadh where the United Nations aspires to raise $2.4 billion for the world's biggest aid operation.

“If we don't get the funding we need and if more isn't done to suppress the virus, Covid-19 could engulf Yemen,” said Lise Grande, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, in a statement.