Yemen has been caught in a protracted crisis that has received limited attention over the past years. A recent escalation of the conflict continues to exacerbate the already bleak humanitarian situation.
Our Country Director in Yemen, Hajir Maalim, reports on the dire situation:
A Dire Humanitarian Crisis
“The humanitarian situation in Yemen is rapidly turning into a tragedy”, said Hajir Maalim, our Country Director for Yemen. As fighting continues, access for aid workers is ever more restricted and food, water and medical supplies in short supply. Dire fuel shortages also threaten our relief efforts.”
Even before the latest escalation in violence, 16 million Yemenis – 60% of the population – were in need of humanitarian assistance and 13 million – half the population – did not have access to clean water and sanitation. Amid escalating violence, these humanitarian needs are now growing rapidly. In 2014, 10 million people were food insecure, and recent estimates put this number closer to 20 million, representing 80% of the entire population.
A “humanitarian pause” or truce between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebels has commenced in order to improve the ability of organisations, such as ACF, to provide life-saving assistance to those in need. Mr. Maalim told IRIN News, “It will be a significant development if we can get fuel into the country.” However, Maalim also explains that “it’s very hard to say whether the ceasefire will be kept strictly by all parties because there are so many different actors involved and the conflict is escalating rapidly.”
Action Against Hunger remains committed to supporting the most vulnerable in the country, why also urging all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian and human rights laws.