On 8 April, residents fill their containers with water at outdoor taps in Sanaa, the capital, which is experiencing an acute shortage of clean drinking water.
In April 2015 in Yemen, localized conflict among government forces, militants, tribal fighters and other parties since mid-March has spread to many parts of the country. Armed conflict has continued to intensify, and airstrikes, which began on 26 March, have affected 18 of the countrys 22 governorates. The escalating violence has taken a significant toll on civilians. By 12 April, an estimated 364 civilians had been killed and 681 had been injured. At least 77 children had also been killed and 44 had been injured. Infrastructure has also been destroyed, damaged or disrupted as a result of the fighting, including airports and bridges, power and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supply, as well as hospitals, educational and religious institutions, factories, farmlands and local markets. Homes are being directly affected by airstrikes and armed clashes, particularly in the south. The intense fighting has caused large-scale displacement, forcing about 150,000 people to flee their homes. Many of the displaced are believed to be staying primarily with relatives or acquaintances, and others are sheltering in schools. However, many of the most-vulnerable are unable to flee to safety. Insecurity, the closure of ports and other restrictions have significantly exacerbated humanitarian needs and hampered access and the delivery of vital aid to vulnerable communities. Food insecurity is rising, with food prices estimated at 40 per cent and even higher in some areas. The number of people who are food insecure is now estimated at 12 million a 13 per cent increase since the start of the crisis. Fuel, urgently needed to pump water and to maintain services at hospitals and other critical facilities facing frequent power outages, has run out in many areas and, where it is available, prices have skyrocketed, qu
Al-Thawra Net
Every year on 19 August, the World Humanitarian Day pays tribute to the world’s aid workers who tirelessly provide life-saving aid and humanitarian assistance to people in need, often risking their own lives on the front lines of a conflict and in natural disasters.
Statement on behalf of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, on the World Humanitarian Day said that it is a day to advocate for humanitarian action to ensure that aid workers can safely deliver assistance to those in need and demand action to alleviate the suffering of people caught in crises.
In Yemen, the recent escalation of hostilities is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation. The spike in fighting, including airstrikes, has affected non-military targets such as hospitals and schools which have been damaged and destroyed, resulting in casualties among innocent civilians, particularly women and children who continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.
Humanitarian workers have not been spared in the escalation of violence. Medical staff, in particular, have come under fire while providing assistance since the beginning of the conflict. Attacks on medical facilities are prohibited under international humanitarian law. These attacks put at risk the lives and well-being of millions of people who rely on medical assistance for survival and they will continue to impact the access to longterm health care when peace comes.
Despite the difficult situation, humanitarian partners in Yemen continue to work to reach as many people as they can with resources available. To date, over four million people across the entire country have been assisted with some form of humanitarian aid. However, overshadowed by other crises in the region, the emergency in Yemen doesn’t get the attention and the financial support it deserves and overall needs far surpass the capacity of humanitarian partners to respond.
