Now is the time to stand in solidarity with the people of Yemen

Amman, 10 August – On 9 August, scores of people were killed by airstrikes that struck in Majz District, Sa’ada Governorate. The majority of victims are children aged 10 to 13 years who were travelling together on a bus.

“This is horrible and completely unacceptable,” said Ms. Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen. “We feel deeply for the families of the victims. Their loss is unimaginable. To think that so many children have died and been wounded is heart-breaking”.

“The costs of this terrible war rise higher and higher,” said Ms. Grande. “Just last week, scores of people were killed in explosions on a hospital and fish market in Al Hudaydah City.”

Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with 22 million people, 75 per cent of the population, requiring some form of humanitarian assistance and protection. Since 2015, more than 28,000 Yemenis have been either killed or injured. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes including malnutrition, disease and poor health. At least one child is dying every 10 minutes from causes linked to the war.

“We have to wake up to the reality of what is happening in Yemen,” said Ms. Grande. “The numbers are staggering. 8.4 million Yemenis are suffering from acute hunger and seven million are malnourished. Another 10 million more innocent civilians will fall into pre-famine conditions by the end of the year if the war doesn’t stop.”

“Nearly 60 per cent of people don’t have access to health care or to safe water,” said Ms. Grande. “Nowhere else in the world are more people suffering as much as in Yemen. Now is the time to stand in solidarity with the people of Yemen.”

“Everything possible has to be done to end the humanitarian crisis.”

The UN and partners are requesting USD 3 billion through the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan to support millions of people in need across the country. To date, USD 1.85 billion, 62 per cent, has been received.

https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/now-time-stand-solidarity-people-yemen